Two new satellites EU’s Galileo satellite navigation program were launched into space. Soyuz carrier rocket launched from the European spaceport near Kourou in French Guiana.
We start was scheduled for yesterday, but it was postponed by 24 hours due to adverse weather conditions.
Number of satellites placed into orbit the Galileo program has grown to six. Recent satellite called Dores and Milena from the names of students who were winners of the drawing competition of the EU.
Dores and Milena are the first two satellites of the Galileo system having full operational capability. The satellites are placed before testing the system in orbit.
As today announced the European Commission in the near future, after the addition of the existing network of satellites of a new series, will be gradually increased levels of availability and coverage of the Galileo signal, approaching the fully operational phase of the program.
Galileo is the European global navigation satellite system to be competitive with the American GPS (Global Positioning System) and the Russian GLONASS. It will, however, compatible with them. The main advantage of Galileo over GPS to be precise.
placement in orbit of the full constellation of 30 satellites, including six spare, still scheduled for the end of the decade, however, the implementation of the program for the event is delayed; Initial plans assumed that the end of 2014. orbit will have 18 satellites.
According to the Commission, before the end of 2014. outer space will fly two more satellites. In turn, the next year, thanks to three European launcher Ariane 5, it will be possible launch of four satellites simultaneously, and not two, so far.
The cost of the program was estimated at 7 million by 2020 r.
MPA, PAP
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