21/01/2021 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission announced, on Wednesday 20 January, the award of the first contracts to Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defense & Space for €1.47 billion for the launch of Galileo’s second generation of satellites, consisting of 12 satellites. The first satellites of this second generation will be placed in orbit by the end of 2024. This update will significantly improve Galileo’s accuracy, which will be essential for civil activities, but also for military applications. At the EU Space Conference, the Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, announced his intention to accelerate the deployment of the new constellation by 2024 (see EUROPE 12634/8). (PH)