Europe launches Galileo satellite
A new era in satellite navigation has begun with the launch of Giove-A. The 600kg spacecraft was lofted into orbit on a Soyuz rocket from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, at 1119 (0519GMT).
Giove-A will demonstrate key technologies needed for Galileo, the 3.4bn-euro (£2.3bn; $4bn) sat-nav system Europe hopes to deploy by 2010.
The new network will give EU states guaranteed access to a space-borne precise timing and location service independent of the United States.
The perfect launch was a moment of celebration for the small British company, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), which had been given the prestigious task of building the demonstrator.
Source: BBC.
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