ESA orders four more Galileo second-generation satellites, splitting work between Airbus and Thales Alenia Space
The European Space Agency, acting for the European Commission, has contracted Airbus and Thales Alenia Space to build two additional Galileo Second Generation satellites each. The four spacecraft bring the planned G2 fleet to 16; launches of the first 12 ordered in 2021 are scheduled to begin in 2028, with the new satellites due from 2031.