Working satellite navigation system Galileo – the pulse of the Business

the European satellite navigation system Galileo began to provide the first service – said the European Commission.

Galileo is the European global satellite navigation system (GNSS), a civil alternative to the us Global Positioning System (GPS) or the Russian GLONASS.

compared to GPS and GLONASS, which is currently used, for example, smartphones, Galileo should be a lot precyzyjniejszy thanks zegarom, the measured time with a delay of one second in several million years. In a version widely available, the accuracy of the positioning is to achieve 1 meter commercial – 1 inch.

the satellites Themselves (circulating after three orbits at an altitude of 23 222 km)– ultimately, in 2020, when the system Galileo to full power operation – 30 (of which six spare). Each satellite weighing 675 pounds will be two rubidowe atomic clock and the two clocks based on passive maserze run on hydrogen. Currently in orbit rotates 18 Galileo satellites. The dimensions of the satellite, it is 2.7 by 1.2 by 1.1 m, and its generating 1.5 kilowatts of power the solar panels have a life of 18.7 meters. The planned life of the satellite is 12 years.

the Big advantage of Galileo over the competing systems and the much stronger signal. It can be taken inside large buildings or in tunnels, and the actions of rescuers in the high mountains, where they often lost the GPS signal, it will be easier.

- Geographical position is a Central element podvergalsya the digital revolution, including new services that transform our daily lives. Thanks to Galileo the accuracy of geolocation will grow ten times that will enable the development of next-generation technology based on positioning, such as cars without drivers, the devices connected or smart city services, – said the Deputy Chairman of the Commission Marosz Szefczowicz responsible for the energy Union.

according to the Commissioner for internal market, industry, entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises Elizabeth Bieńkowskiej, “the launch of the first services of Galileo for Europe is a major achievement and the first manifestation of the implementation of our new strategy space”.

- the System demonstrates the technological excellence of Europe, a high level of know-how, which has, and its determination to provide services of the highest quality satellite and offer the possibility of their use. No European state is not zdołałoby to do it alone – says Bieńkowska.

the System will start to testify in conjunction with GPS and free services such as emergency services; better navigation; improved synchronization belt and secure services in the interests of public sector bodies.

the Announcement of the first services of Galileo means that the infrastructure of satellite and ground systems are ready for action. The signals are very accurate, but they will not be available at all times. Therefore, in the initial phase of the Galileo signals will be used in combination with other satellite navigation systems, e.g. GPS.

the First services of Galileo is managed by the European GNSS Agency (GSA). The subject, ultimately managing the Galileo program is a European Commission, which gave the European Space Agency responsible for the placement of the system and providing technical support for operational objectives.

Since the beginning of the project 17 years ago (originally was supposed to be completed in 2008). Costs are estimated at 10 billion euros. The idea was born back in 80-ies. The XX century. In the program, in addition to EU countries started at different times, Israel, Morocco, Norway, Switzerland, Ukraine and China (which, however, in 2006 he decided to develop his own system Beidou).

the construction of the system was subjected to considerable delays, in particular, due to technical problems in the construction of satellites and the need for correction of the space center in French Guiana for the Russian carrier rockets “Soyuz”.

the Problem was, and pressure from the United States who didn’t want the Galileo satellites used with the same frequency as the GPS. Eventually it was decided that each system will have a different frequency, so that the failure of one will not affect the other.