The launch brings the number of Galileo satellites now in orbit to four, as two others were launched last year. The Galileo system is designed “to free Europe of dependence on America’s Global Positioning System,” ESA said in a statement. It is estimated to cost over 20 billion euros (around $26 billion) and aims to be a fully operational 30-satellite constellation by 2020.

The prime contractor is European aerospace company EADS with major subcontracting conducted by Thales Alenia Space.