European navigation centre for Galileo opens in Prague

The central satellite navigation centre of the European space agency’s Galileo program began full operation on Thursday in Prague’s Holešovice district. The Galileo system or GSA, is the European answer to the American GPS navigation system, and should be launched sometime in 2014 or 2015. The European space agency already has two out of the necessary 18 satellites in orbit and two more should be launched in early October. The Czech Republic was selected out of 12 EU countries to host it. Among those who spoke at the launch on Thursday were Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the European Commission, GSA head Carlos Des Dorides, and Czech Transport Minister Pavel Dobeš.

Author: Jan Velinger