Engadget by Steve Dent 10/23/2023
Its Falcon 9 rockets will launch up to four Galileo navigation satellites.SpaceX has struck a deal with the European Space Agency (ESA) to launch four of Europe's Galileo navigation satellites into orbit using its Falcon 9 rocket, The Wall Street Journal has reported. It'll be the first time Elon Musk's company has launched any EU satellites containing classified equipment.
The ESA had planned to launch Galileo satellites using its homegrown Ariane 6 rocket, but the latter has seen frequent delays and isn't expected to make its inaugural launch until 2024 at the earliest. The deal is still subject to final approval by the EU Commission and member states, according to ESA director of navigation Javier Benedicto.
SpaceX would launch the satellites from US territory, according to the terms of the deal. It would mark the first time Galileo equipment has been carried into orbit outside of European territory, barring early test versions launched from Kazakhstan. All other Galileo satellites have launched from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana — using Soyuz rockets at first and the Ariane 5 system later on.
More:
https://www.engadget.com/spacex-will-launch-esa-navigation-satellites-amid-delays-with-the-eus-own-rockets-140030424.html
