Four satellites Galileothe European global navigation satellite system, will be launched into space in 2024 with two rockets from the American private company SpaceX.

This was confirmed by the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Bretonduring the joint press conference with the acting Spanish Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, in the framework of the informal ministerial meeting on space competitiveness in Seville (south).

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This decision was taken before the launch vehicle crisis plaguing Europepartly due to the suspension of cooperation between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian agency Roscosmos by the war in Ukrainewhich prevents Europe from using Russia’s Soyuz rockets, and because of the delays caused by the new Ariane 6 rocket.

“As an ESA customer, I am not happy with what happened (…). We were promised a schedule that has not been kept,” said the Commissioner, who mentioned the delays in the launch of the Ariane 6, “an excellent rocket that we are looking forward to” so that “it can meet our needs. “

For this reason, “I am forced to make decisions” and, when asked by journalists, he noted: “in fact we have four satellites that are going to be launched next year.”

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“Since the Ariane 6 is not available, ESA has proposed us to turn to Space

As he said at the end of October, the point is for the United States to guarantee that “no one will come close to the satellites before they are launched”, as they could gain access to the industrial secrets of this technology in which Europeans consider themselves leaders .

We are working on this with the US bases and authorities and then there will be two launches of four satellites with Space X.

These could be implemented in April and July, but all this awaits confirmation. These are indicative data, he concluded. (JO)