Brussels, 22/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Space Agency (ESA) announced on Tuesday 21 December the opening and entry into service of the first of two Galileo (European satellite navigation system) navigation control hubs. The centre is in Fucino, Italy, and will be responsible for the navigation part of the programme. The second centre will be in Oberpfaffenhoffen, near Munich in Germany, and will be in charge of controlling the Galileo satellites in space. The two centres, the sites of which were chosen in November 2008 (see EUROPE 9776), will complement one another and their work will be strictly coordinated to ensure continuous monitoring and control of the programme's satellites and terrestrial installations. They will be responsible for providing the information needed to support the programme's navigation services. The two centres will be run by Spaceopal, a 50/50 joint venture between Telespazio and Gesellschaft für Raumfahrtanwendungen mbH, a firm set up by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR). The opening ceremony took place on Monday 20 December, with Industry Commissioner Antonio Tajani, ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dourdain, Italian Undersecretary of State Gianni Letta and European industry representatives. (A.By./transl.rt)