The Swedish National Post and Telecom Agency has granted Swedish Space Corp. an S-band license for a telemetry, tracking and command antenna for the Galileo satellite navigation system, the company announced Sept. 14. The license, which runs until 2037, was applied for on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA).

In July, ESA awarded a contract to Swedish Space to provide a site for the northern telemetry, tracking and command antenna for Galileo at Esrange Space Center near Kiruna, Sweden. The 13-meter antenna will be one of two used during Galileo’s In Orbit Validation Phase. The second antenna will be located in Kourou, French Guiana, near the equator.

SES Astra Techcom and partner Hitec Luxembourg will design, build and install the antennas, which are expected to be operational in late 2007.