THE European Union launched the first satellite in its Galileo navigation programme yesterday, which European officials expect one day will end the continent’s reliance on the US Global Positioning System.

A fuel-efficient compact spacecraft has made it into lunar orbit, signalling Europe’s first successful mission to the Moon and putting the inexpensive probe on course to study the lunar surface.

A dishwasher-sized spacecraft on Europe’s first mission to the moon was set to enter lunar orbit tonight, a key milestone in its 13-month trip into space.