After months of wrangling over finances and responsibilities, the European Union is set to launch the first of two experimental satellites in its Galileo navigation system on Dec 28, 2005.
The ambitious 3.6 billion euro project, named after the 17th-century Italian astronomer and Europe's answer to the US-run Global Positioning System (GPS), was nearly wrecked by various disputes even before getting off the ground.
As recently as this autumn, Germany blocked crucial funding in a bid to secure greater participation by German companies.
But now the path is clear for lift-off of the 600-kg GIOVE-A (Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element) satellite from Russia's Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan.
More: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1345421.cms
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