A navigation satellite forming part of the EU's Galileo programme will be named Kimberly, after 11-year-old Mellieha girl Kimberly Camilleri, who has won the local contest of an EU drawing competition.

The European Commission today announced the winners of the Galileo drawing competition about ‘Space and Aeronautics’.

Kimberley Camilleri  was selected as the Maltese winner by a national jury.

The winners, one from each of the 27 European Union Member States, will have a Galileo Programme Satellite named after them and launched into space.

A satellite called Kimberley will now form part of the Galileo satellite constellation.

Galileo will provide a highly accurate positioning service and will enhance Europe’s technological independence.

Kimberly was today presented with a certificate and trophy. The ceremony was held at Santa Monica School, Gżira, in the presence of Martin Bugelli, Head of the European Commission Representation in Malta, Dr. James Calleja, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education  and the national adjudication panel.

Mr. Bugelli congratulated Kimberley for “her vivid expression of the different benefits of space technology for Europeans.” He also thanked all the participants for submitting a total of 131 drawings, and urged them to participate in similar initiatives that the European Commission organises from time to time as a way to be more active in letting the world know what they think. 

The jury was composed of Dr Angelo Chetcuti from the European Commission Representation in Malta, Ian Busuttil Naudi, presenter of the weekly television programme ‘Gadgets’, and Tony Tanti from the Malta Society of Astronomy.

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