On Friday, 21 October 2011, a Russian Soyuz rocket started off from French Guiana bearing the first two satellites of Europe's Galileo global positioning system. The rocket lifted off at 10h30 a.m. GMT. Vice President of the European Commission Antonio Tajani, responsible for industry and entrepreneurship, said: “This is a proud moment for all Europeans; today's launch is proof of Europe's prowess in the field of space activities”. By 2020 the Galileo line should have 30 satellites.

Galileo is the Programme of the European Commission to develop a global satellite navigation system under European civilian control. As of 2014 it will offer three services. The Open Service will be free of charge and offer a wide range of services from in-car navigation to high precision farming. The Public Regulated Service (PRS) will ensure that key services dependent on satellite navigation such as the police and ambulance services continue to function in moments of crisis, terrorist threat or natural disaster. The Search-and-Rescue Service is designed for times of emergency. For instance, a sailor lost at sea can then not only send his distress signal but will also receive a confirmation message with Galileo that he has been located and that help is on its way. Further services to follow later include a Commercial Service (fee-based) and a Safety-of-Life Service (aviation). The overall economic impact is estimated to be around 90 billion euro over the next 20 years by creating jobs, new business opportunities and socio-economic benefits for society as a whole.

"By starting to provide in 2014 a full range of services to all European citizens, our global navigation satellite system will improve our daily lives" said Vice President Tajani. "Its precision positioning will increase our mobility; its interoperable Safety-of-Life service will make transport around the world safer; it will bring us more secure banking transactions and more reliable electricity supply; it will make civil protection more robust and will help saving lives in remote areas thanks to its search and rescue capacity. […] What we are witnessing today is a key milestone in ensuring Europe's independence in space technology and I am pleased to celebrate today Europe's force and dynamism through what has been achieved."

The Galileo program started in the 1990s when the European Space Agency (ESA) initiated research and development projects in the field of satellite navigation systems. Since 2008 it is managed completely by the European Commission. Since October 2009 EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) provides improved GPS signals in Europe. It is the precursor to Galileo.

In the course of his visit to Israel in early November 2011, Vice President Tajani signed an agreement with Minister of Industry, Trade and Labour Shalom Simhon under which reception stations will be established in Israel for the navigation satellites of the EGNOS system.

For more information:

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/satnav/galileo/index_en.htm

http://multimedia.esa.int/Missions/Galileo (videos)