Ioonos

GREEN LIGHT FOR GALILEO

Galileo" >Galileo’s ambition? To provide Europe with a satellite navigation system that will free it from dependence on the American GPS. Galileo" >Galileo’s strong point? Accuracy down to a few metres. And when should it see the light of day? In April 2008 the project passed a decisive point, and is looking at 2013…

Galileo" >Galileo, a development scenario
The project was launched in 2000 at the initiative of the European Union and the European Space Agency. At the beginning everything went very well, trials were planned as well as the production of the satellites required before going into service, which had been imagined to be in… 2008!
Why didn’t things run like that? The issue of finance, which should have been shared between public (European Union) and private funds (European companies), stalled the project. The private companies were afraid of additional costs and an unequal sharing of the risks, especially if the commercial outlook did not materialise.

Towards a happy ending?
And how can we now be sure that Galileo" >Galileo is on the right track? The European Parliament and the Member States have judged that the European satellite navigation system is sufficiently important and strategic to finance it in its entirety, and the sum allocated is € 3.4 billion. On 23 April Parliament gave its final green light to the project that involves sending up 30 satellites by 2013.

How will Galileo" >Galileo operate?
Thirty satellites will be in orbit, about 24,000 km above the Earth. These satellites will cover the whole planet and will be controlled by ground stations. Each will be equipped with a highly precise atomic clock, which will facilitate locating any static or moving object within one metre.
The American Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Russian Glonass, both launched during the Cold War for military purposes, operate on the same principle. GPS is now part of our daily lives, however, the Russian system is not really operational, though the Russians plan to overhaul it.
 (For more information, see the technical sheet)

Why is GPS not enough?
The American GPS system does not work perfectly and its military nature is a handicap in the protection of civilians during a major crisis. Europe wishes to have its own system, however, it is planned that applications used by Galileo" >Galileo will be compatible with GPS.
 
What will the pluses of Galileo" >Galileo be?
Galileo" >Galileo is a true technological achievement, because it will provide us accuracy within one metre. However, it will not just be used to guide our cars from a departure point to a requested destination!
Here are some other applications:
    - Guiding emergency services (fire brigade, police, ambulances, lifeguards and mountain rescue);
    - Support for the blind or sufferers of Alzheimer;
    - Guiding explorers, hikers and seafarers;
    - Topographical surveillance of urban development and major public works;
    Geographical data collection;
    - Management of agricultural land, and more.