[Satellite Today 09-29-08] Astrium has been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Union (EU) as a prime candidate for both the Galileo FOC space and ground control segment, Astrium announced Sept. 29.
    To comply with EU procurement requirements, Astrium said it is inviting interested suppliers to submit expressions of interest.
    The process for Galileo was reopened in July after a consortium of eight private companies charged with developing Galileo failed to agree on a funding plan. The EC sesrves as program manager and contracting authority, while ESA will oversee procurement and design. The system is scheduled to be operational by 2013.