The Galileo satellite-navigation system is coming.

After all the wrangling, the delays and the furore over cost, Europe’s version of GPS is finally starting to take shape.

In an industrial cleanroom in southern England, engineers are reaching key milestones in their preparation of four satellites.

It will be these In-Orbit Validation (IOV) models which will prove the Galileo concept.

Due for launch in pairs in late 2010 and early-2011, the "pathfinders" will form a mini-constellation in the sky.

They will transmit the navigation signals that demonstrate the European system can become a reality.

The rest of the network should then follow soon afterwards. Galileo will eventually comprise some 30 satellites, to inform and guide users the world over.

"Even with just a few Galileo spacecraft in orbit – if you had a GPS and Galileo-compatible receiver, you would begin to see a difference, simply by virtue of having more satellites in the sky," explained Dr Mike Healy from EADS Astrium.

The company’s Portsmouth cleanroom is responsible for assembling the IOV payloads.

Its engineers have been sent sat-nav components from across Europe. These equipments are being installed in 1.5m-by-1.5m-by-3m boxes.

On a level

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