A control center for operating Galileo satellites. Photo: Telespazio

[Via Satellite 08-04-2014] Telespazio and the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) will cooperatively run the operations for Galileo, Europe’s navigational satellite program, through a joint venture. Established by the two entities in 2009, Spaceopal GmbH, is the main contractor for operations services and will handle controlling the satellites, navigation data processing and monitoring worldwide receiving systems.

The DLR operates through one of two identical control centers. The agency’s is located in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, while Telespazio’s is located in Fucino, Italy.

Over time, the European Global Navigation Satellite System Agency (GSA) will take over managing Galileo’s operational phase. Through Spaceopal, both the DLR and Telespazio are prepared to serve as core partners with the GSA.