EU Partners with SpaceX and Ariane 6 for Galileo Satellite Launches

The European Union (EU) is finalizing a contract with SpaceX to launch four Galileo navigation satellites in 2024. The launches, tentatively scheduled for April and July, will use a pair of Falcon 9 rockets. The EU had been considering non-European rockets due to delays in the Ariane 6 and the retirement of the Ariane 5 and Soyuz. The final obstacle to completing the launch contract is negotiating a security agreement to protect sensitive technologies on the Galileo satellites when they are being prepared for launch from the United States.