ESA, OHB Blamed for Galileo Delays; Financial Penalties Forthcoming

摘要

European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani laid equal blame for the delays in Europe's Galileo satellite positioning, navigation and timing project at the feet of the European Space Agency (ESA) and satellite prime contractor OHB AG and said financial penalties would be imposed. Tajani also said he has asked his staff to study options favoring the use of Galileo in Europe, "including a regulatory option that would require the use of Galileo, based on the example of eCall. The results of the study should be known in early 2014 and the commission will then make its decision." Europe's eCall sends messages automatically from vehicles involved in an accident anywhere in the 28-nation European Union. It will be mandatory in new automobiles in Europe starting in 2015.