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Why Europe needs Galileo
Satellite navigation users in Europe today have no alternative other than to take their positions from US GPS or Russian GLONASS satellites. Yet the military operators of both systems give no guarantee to maintain an uninterrupted service.
Satellite positioning has already become the standard way of navigating. If the signals were switched off tomorrow, many ship and aircraft crews would find it inconvenient and difficult to revert to traditional navigation methods. As the use of satellite navigation spreads, the implications of a signal failure will be even greater, jeopardising not only the efficient running of transport systems, but also human safety.
As far back as the early 1990s, the European Union saw the need for Europe to have its own global satellite navigation system. The conclusion to build one was taken in similar spirit to decisions in the 1970s to embark on other well-known European endeavours, such as the Ariane launcher and the Airbus. The European Commission and European Space Agency joined forces to build Galileo, an independent system under civilian control which will be guaranteed to operate at all times, bar the direst emergency.
European independence is the chief reason for taking this major step. However, other subsidiary reasons include:
- By being inter-operable with GPS and GLONASS, Galileo will be a cornerstone of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). This system will be under civilian control and will allow positions to be determined accurately for most places on Earth, even in high rise cities where buildings obscure signals from satellites low on the horizon. This is because the number of satellites available from which to take a position is more than doubled
- By placing satellites in orbits at a greater inclination to the equatorial plane than GPS, Galileo will achieve better coverage at high latitudes. This will make it particularly suitable for operation over northern Europe, an area not well covered by GPS
- With Galileo, Europe will be able to exploit the opportunities provided by satellite navigation to the full extent. GNSS receiver and equipment manufacturers, application providers and service operators will benefit from novel business opportunities
Last update: 18 July 2007 | |
| | Related links Galileo Joint Undertaking (GJU)Galileo website (European Commission)CENCGlonassUS Naval Observatory GPS operationsGalileo videos  Galileo - The European Initiative
Europe shows the way - Windows media player
Europe shows the way - Windows media player
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Europe shows the way - Quick time
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