Re: Lessons from the past
What led to the development of the very successful Ariane rocket family was a dispute concerning the right to use a European satellite for commercial (communication) purposes, if I remember well (in the early 70's). A Delta rocket launched it but the CNES could only use the satellite as a technological testbed, even when everything was ready for commercial applications.
About Galileo, well, I'm sure the Europeans wouldn't want their capability to orient themselves very precisely hampered by a decision that's out of their control.
Raoul