The agreement to spend the money by the EU countries was reported not to have been voted on unanimously by its members. Germany reportedly voted against the deal.

The original group of companies, collectively called European Satellite Navigation Industries, was placed in charge of developing Galileo. The group of companies finally disbanded after they refused to continue to pay for expanding expenses for the project.

The Galileo system is intended to be 30 675-kilogram satellites orbiting about 14,430 miles (23,222 kilometers) above the Earth, in three orbital planes at a 56 degree inclination. Each satellite is expected to last at least for twelve years.


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