Europe awarded SpaceX a contract to launch satellites of the Galileo navigation system

On October 23, 2023, it became known that the company SpaceX Elona Musk European Space Agency (ESA) had signed an agreement on the launch of several satellites into orbit. We are talking about spacecraft of the navigation system. Galileo

The Galileo platform is designed to solve geodetic and navigation problems. In addition, these spacecraft can be used to organize secure communications between European governments. The satellites are taken to circular geocentric orbits with an altitude of 23,222 km. As of 2023, the Galileo group has 23 active satellites orbiting the Earth. The platform serves approximately 4 billion users worldwide, and the location accuracy is about 20 cm.

SpaceX to launch multiple ESA satellites into orbit

According to The Wall Street Journal, the agreement between SpaceX and ESA provides for the launch of four Galileo vehicles into orbit. As part of the agreement, Musk's company will carry out two launches of Falcon 9 launch vehicles during 2024, each of which will carry two European spacecraft on board. The agreement should be approved by the European Commission and the countries participating in the European Union.

Thus, for the first time in 15 years (as of 2023), Galileo satellites will be launched into space from outside the European Union. In addition, for the first time, SpaceX is involved in the launch of Galileo spacecraft. In this regard, community countries and the United States have already begun negotiations to conclude an agreement on the protection of classified information transmitted using Galileo satellites. ESA's decision to cooperate with the United States in this project is explained by several reasons, including the current geopolitical situation and the difficulties with the creation of European missiles.^[1]

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