Artist's concept of Galileo satellites in formation. Credit: OHB

PARIS โ€” The successful Dec. 17 launch of two Galileo positioning, navigation and timing satellites makes it all but certain that the Galileo network will offer initial services by late 2016, including the encrypted, government-only Public Regulated Service (PRS), to which the United States and Norway have requested access.

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Peter B. de Selding was the Paris bureau chief for SpaceNews.