The launch of the first two Galileo navigation satellites from Kourou, French Guiana, will be celebrated by the European Parliament and Commission this Thursday, on Parliament's Solidarność 1980 esplanade, and broadcast live from Brussels.

The two satellites, for use by the Galileo open civilian navigation system; will be launched onto a 23,600 km high orbit from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. They are the first in a series that will enable Galileo to begin supplying services in 2014.

Once operational, Galileo will be available for use in transport, search and rescue operations, public works, oil prospection, agriculture, or everyday life, e.g. for car navigation or mobile phones.

The programme really got under way, after a slow start, only when the Parliament, Council and the Commission struck a deal in 2008 to include funding for it in the EU's long-term budget.

Official launch on Thursday 20 October

The ceremony, starting at 11.00h, will be followed by speeches by Commission President José Manuel Barroso, and EP Industry, Research and Energy Committee chair Herbert Reul (EPP, DE).

An interactive exhibition area will offer the opportunity to meet engineers in charge of the Galileo programme.

Live launch broadcast at 12.34h

The launch from the European Spaceport at Kourou is scheduled for 12.34h, Brussels time (10.34h GMT). It will be shown on a big screen on the esplanade and at the link below.