Brexit latest: Galileo satellite launch ready for July despite EU UK conflict
The Galileo satellites will blast off into space on Wednesday, July 25, from a European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Ahead of the launch, the satellites were prepared and filled with the rocket propellant hydrazine. The hydrazine fuel will keep the satellites manoeuvrable in space for their 12-year lifespan. The satellites were secured in protective containers for transport and now wait to be fitted onboard an Ariane 5 rocket.
The Ariane 5 will deliver the Galileo equipment to an orbit 14,243 miles (22,922km) above Earth. Galileo is Europe’s very own global satellite navigation system, similar to the American Global Positioning System (GPS). The Galileo system began service on December 15, 2016, and today more than 100 million devices rely on it. The current Full Operational Capability phase of Galileo is fully funded by the European Union and managed by the European Commission.
ESA-P. Carril Galileo launch: Four European satellites will launch into orbit on July 27
The European Space Agency (ESA) acts as a Galileo system authority and procurement agent on behalf of the European Commission. However, Britain’s fast approaching Brexit date of March 29, 2019, has thrown a spanner in the works and uncertainty lingers about the UK’s involvement after it leaves the EU. The UK has so far invested a staggering £1billion out of the £8.5 billion in Galileo costs but the EU is threatening to disallow continued use after Brexit. In early May, a Government source said the Prime Minister was prepared to seek out an alternative to Galileo if negotiations break down.
ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Optique Video du CSG Galileo launch: The four satellites were fuelled with propellant for 12 years
ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Optique Video du CSG - JM Guillion Galileo launch: The UK's access to the system is uncertain after Brexit
Sir Richard Dearlove, former MI6 chief, recently urged Prime Minster Theresa May to ditch the European system in favour of America’s GPS.
There is no reason why we shouldn’t become the European hub for space Jesse Norman MP
The news comes after Business Secretary Greg Clark asked for £100million in funding from the Treasury to investigate whether or not Britain would be better off developing its own navigations system. Mr Clark said: “We have made our position clear to the European Commission and highlighted the importance of the UK to the Galileo programme. “It is now right that we explore alternative options to ensure our security needs are met as we continue to take full advantage of the opportunities that exist in the global space sector through our modern industrial strategy.”
Outer space photo project is ultimate time capsule Fri, December 15, 2017 Trevor Paglen’s Last Pictures project is secured within a gold-plated aluminum clamshell Play slideshow The Last Pictures 1 of 11 The silicon disc containing 100 photographs of life on Earth