Brussels, 07/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - Sometime this week, the European Commission is expected to come to a decision on awarding the contract for building the remaining satellites of the Galileo programme (European radio-navigation programme by satellite). The decision could be deferred but delaying the order would delay the programme as a whole by at least one year (the first satellites are to be launched in 2012/2013 and, to keep up to schedule, it is necessary to order at least 8 satellites by the end of this year). Two German consortia, Astrium and OHB system, associated with British SSTL (Surrey Satellite Technology Limited, which built the Giove A satellite launched in 2005 aimed mainly at occupying frequencies intended for the programme), were placed in competition for the space segment of the programme after a pre-selection made by the Commission in September 2008 (EUROPE 9744). Each of the above were asked to present three options for 8, 14 or 22 satellites for a total value not exceeding €840 million. Several possibilities must therefore be taken into account. Either the Commission which, when taking its decision, must take into consideration satellite durability and the competitiveness of the offer, will simply order eight satellites and then proceed to an additional call for tenders (necessary to have a 30-statellite constellation in orbit) in the following years, or it will choose 14 with the option of re-launching a call for tenders for the remaining 8, or it will directly choose to order 22 satellites from one and the same consortium. Satellites ordered will be in addition to the first four satellites of the programme, ordered from Astrium. The Commission is expected to also decide, as soon as possible, how to award contracts for two other batches under the programme: - the launchers (Arianespace) and engineering support disputed by Thales AleniaSpace (Italy) and Logica (Netherlands). At this stage, delay incurred has amounted to surcharges of about €600 million, mainly for the space section (€350 million) and the launcher section, whose cost exceeds the €700 million initially foreseen by about €300 million. (A.By./transl.jl)