Brussels, 06/12/2021 (Agence Europe) – Two new Galileo navigation satellites were successfully placed into orbit by a Soyuz launcher on Sunday 5 December, bringing the number of satellites in the constellation to 28. “Today, we are once again demonstrating that Europe is a space power,” said Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton, who pointed out that Galileo was the best positioning system in the world. Paul Verhoef, director of navigation at the European Space Agency (ESA), noted that this is the 11th satellite launch in the constellation in ten years. In its press release, ESA recalled that there are still 10 first-generation satellites to be launched in the next three years. The second generation is expected to follow in 2024 (see EUROPE 12641/34). (PH)