Control Centre For Europe’s Galileo Satellite Navigation System Established

The foundation stone was laid november 21^th at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) establishment in Oberpfaffenhofen for the new control centre for Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system.

The first official step in the construction of the ground segment for the high-precision European navigation system was taken in the presence of the Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs, Wolfgang Tiefensee, the Bavarian Minister-President, Dr. Edmund Stoiber, and the Chairman of DLR, Prof. Dr Sigmar Wittig.

Once the control centre with its three control rooms is completed in spring 2008, it will be formally handed over to DLR. It will then enable up to 100 scientists and engineers to control up to 30 satellites. Installation of the control and monitoring equipment is set to begin in September 2007.

A total of euro16 million is being invested in the new control centre. The state of Bavaria provided euro10 million and the other euro6 million was sourced from federal funds. The first operative Galileo satellites are scheduled for launch in September and December 2008.

Source: SpaceMart