[Satellite TODAY 01-08-10] The European Commission (EC) and European Space Agency (ESA) issued three of six Galileo program contracts in its satellite tendering process that began in September 2008.
    The EC contracted a consortium led by OHB-System and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) to build and test the 14 satellites for the Galileo satellite program, SSTL and OHB announced Jan. 7.
OHB-System will assume the role of prime contractor with responsibilities to oversee the development and overall integration of the satellite platform.
   SSTL, which built Giove-A, the first Galileo satellite, will build and integrate the navigation payloads and support OHB with the final integration. The 14 satellites will be assembled at OHB’s facilities in Bremen, Germany.
    Financial details of the OHB, SSTL contract were not disclosed.
    The EC also awarded Thales Alenia Space Italia with an 85 million euro ($121.7 million) framework contract to provide Galileo system support to the ESA, Thales announced Jan. 7.
    Thales Alenia Space Italia will provide the overall system design, the system security design, the overall system integration, verification and in-orbit validation for the Galileo system, scheduled for operational launch in early 2014.

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