Elon Musk's SpaceX has agreed to launch up to four European satellites, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). These satellites are flagship navigation in secure communication and navigation. However, the article stated that for the deal to proceed, both the European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union (EU), and EU member states would still need to give their approval.
The European Space Agency (ESA) and SpaceX recently signed a contract for the two missions scheduled for next year. With each launch, two Galileo satellites would be sent into orbit.
The ESA's director of navigation, Javier Benedicto, was quoted by the WSJ as saying that SpaceX was required to launch these satellites using its Falcon 9 rocket in accordance with the agreement.
Neither the European Commission nor SpaceX made an immediate official statement.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) just launched a spacecraft holding The Psyche probe using SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket. The Kennedy Space Centre of NASA in Cape Canaveral served as the launch pad for the rocket. The mission will go a distance of 2.2 billion miles (3.5 billion km) before arriving at the most abundant metal-rich asteroid in our Solar System, Psyche.
At its widest point, the asteroid is about 173 miles (279 km) across. It is situated between Mars and Jupiter on the periphery of the main asteroid belt.
The core of an ancient protoplanet is considered to still be present in Psych. It is anticipated that the Psyche probe will land at the asteroid in August 2029.
(With inputs from agencies)
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