Brussels, 07/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - Franco-German cooperation is extending into space. Control of the first two Galileo satellites was transferred from French hands at the French Space Agency centre in Toulouse to German hands in the Galileo control centre in Oberpfaffenhofen, on Thursday 3 November. The first two satellites of the new European satellite navigation system had to complete the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP), roughly two weeks after their launch on Friday 21 October, before beginning activation and payload (all the instruments needed for the satellites to accomplish their tasks) tests. For the next 10 years, the lifespan of these satellites, the Oberpfaffenhofen centre will have command and control. (MD/transl.rt)