Posted: Tue, Mar 6, 2007, 8:37 AM ET (1337 GMT)
ESA announced Monday that it has awarded a contract a British smallsat manufacturer to build a second satellite for Europe's Galileo satellite navigation system. Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) will build the GIOVE-A2 satellite for ESA for launch in the second half of 2008, most likely on a Soyuz rocket. SSTL built the first Galileo satellite, GIOVE-A, which was launched in late 2005. That satellite was designed to put into use ahead of a regulatory deadline the frequencies that had been reserved for use by the full Galileo system. The GIOVE-A2 satellite will serve as a backup to GIOVE-A and incorporate some technological enhancements. ESA had previously contracted for a more sophisticated test satellite, GIOVE-B, that is being built by European Space Navigation Industries (formerly Galileo Industries), the joint venture that will eventually build the operational Galileo satellites. However, the GIOVE-B satellite has been delayed numerous times because of technical problems and is now not expected to be launched before late this year or early 2008.

Related Links:

•  Space News article (subscription required)
•  AFP article
•  UPI article
•  SSTL press release
•  ESA press release