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Galileo - the European satellite navigation system
An independent, European, civil satellite navigation system, which is being developed for worldwide use, is being created in the form of Galileo.
A reliable navigation and positioning system is increasingly becoming a key element for interlinking the different modes of transport to create an integrated transport system at the national and European levels.
Contents
- Possible applications
- European Union system
- Economic importance
- German participation
- Funding
- Timetable
- How does Galileo work?
Possible applications
Galileo is an independent, highly accurate positioning and timing system. It will be used, for instance, in aviation for a multiplicity of navigation applications; in shipping for safe navigation using electronic charts; on the railways for train control systems; in road transport for route guidance; and in intermodal deployments it will be used to monitor dangerous goods movements and for cargo tracking.
In addition, it will make a major contribution in the fields of geodesy, agriculture, search and rescue services or in the leisure sector (direction-finding in open country or on water).
European Union system
Galileo is designed to make the European Union (EU) independent of the USA's GPS (Global Positioning System) and the Russian Federation's Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS). As a joint project of the EU and the European Space Agency (ESA), Galileo will be compatible and interoperable with GPS, but will guarantee independent and reliable usability.
The Nederlands Economisch Institut (NEI) has calculated that if GPS were to fail for just 2 days, Europe would suffer a loss of 220 million euros in the transport sector alone.
Economic IMPORTANCE
Forecasts by the European Commission predict that the worldwide market for satellite navigation products and services will be worth 400 billion euros by 2025. Some three billion satellite navigation receivers are expected to be in operation by 2020. The Galileo programme will create around 150,000 jobs throughout Europe.
It is true that GPS currently provides its signals for civil use free of charge, but it uses them selectively for competition purposes. This gives the American industry significant advantages in the development and marketing of receivers. This means that a European independent system is absolutely essential to ensure that Europe does not get left behind in international competition and that the German and European industries enjoy a fair share of the market.
German participation
From the very beginning, the Federal Government has been firmly committed to ensuring that German companies enjoy their fair share, and it has made the largest financial contribution to the project. This commitment is now paying off. The major part of the system development work - development and construction of four test satellites and the necessary ground stations - will be carried out by the German space industry.
The German space industry will also play a key role in the system deployment phase. At the November 2007 Transport Council, EU transport ministers decided that the contracts for the Galileo segments would be awarded by Europe-wide competitive tendering. Given their expertise, German companies have very good opportunities here, especially in the field of satellite construction. In addition, Oberpfaffenhofen has been chosen as the site of one of the two main satellite control centres.
By way of preparation for the subsequent use of the navigation signals as a basis for the success of the Galileo system, the Federal Government holds a conference each year with the industry, service providers and users to provide information on the possibilities and potential inherent in satellite positioning and navigation and to promote commercialization and market penetration. The 2006 conference was held at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt on 22 March. It is planned to stage another user conference in 2008.
FundinG
The development costs will total around 1.6 bn euros. 50 % will come from funds from the EU budget, and the other 50 % will be borne by ESA.
The deployment of the system will be funded from the EU's 2007 - 2013 budget. Expenditure totalling 3.4 billion euros has been earmarked for this purpose. EU finance ministers agreed on this sum at their November 2007 meeting.
As far as the subsequent operation of the system is concerned, the objective is to have substantial private sector involvement.
Timetable
The development phase, which comprises the technological development of the system, is due to be completed by 2009/2010.
This will be followed by the deployment phase, in which the satellites will be built and put into orbit. Operation is planned to start in 2013.
How does Galileo Work?
The constellation will consists of a total of 30 satellites, each of which will be fitted with two atomic clocks for the accurate measurement of time. Each satellite will transmit not only a time signal but also its current coordinates. If a receiver on earth receives the signals from a satellite, the distance between the receiver and the satellite will be calculated. From a knowledge of the coordinates of the satellites and the distance from them, the position of the receiver and, if necessary, the time at which the satellite signals reach the receiver will be calculated and displayed. Precise positioning will require signals to be received from at least three satellites.
The satellites will be monitored by the required number of ground stations.
