Galileo: the last test satellite launched
(BRUSSELS2 in Fucino - Italy) Launched on the Baikonur cosmodrome (Kazakhstan), the last test satellite for European GPS - Galileo - was mainly piloted at the center of Fucino (Italy) by the European Space Agency, from a small room ordinary looks, with telephone and control screen.
To return to earth, this launch - after the acceptance by the Member States and the European Parliament of public funding (= 3,4 billion euros) for the installation of the 30 satellites - marks the start of the space Europe. The success of this "technical test enables Europe in space to take a step forward", as Commissioner Barrot declared.
Make no mistake about it! Beyond the technical aspects, the industrial issues and the political declarations, there is for Europe a real strategic interest : Europe thus gains its independence for the future. Being able to master the entire chain: from the launch of the satellite to the final recognition of the signal, possibly usable in the field, by the military.
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