EADS Space estimates that its share of work under the contract signed by Galileo Industries with the European Space Agency (ESA) will be about 200 million euros, EADS said Jan. 19.

The In Orbit Validation (IOV) contract, signed Jan. 18 in Berlin, calls for the development and manufacturing of the first four operational spacecraft in Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system. The contract, valued at 1 billion euros, also covers part of the ground infrastructure, including the full testing of the subsystem.

EADS Astrium in Ottobrunn, Germany, will assume system leadership for the space segment and take overall responsibility for the construction of the first four satellites, as well as manufacture the solar arrays for the spacecraft. The propulsion units will be built by EADS Space Transportation in Lampoldshausen, Germany.

EADS Astrium in the United Kingdom will develop the payloads and ground control segment.

The first four operational Galileo satellites are scheduled to be launched in 2008, with the full 30-satellite constellation slated to be in orbit by the end of the decade.

EADS Space is the largest shareholder in Galileo Industries with a 38 percent stake.