GIOVE-A test campaign completed

ÁBHAR CARTLAINNE 17 LÚNA. 2007 1123

The test campaign using the large antenna at Chilbolton Observatory to analyse the navigation signals transmitted by GIOVE-A, the first Galileo satellite, has been successfully completed.

Following its launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome on 28 December 2005, GIOVE-A began transmitting navigation signals on 12 January 2006. Analysis of these signals has involved several facilities, including the Navigation Laboratory at ESA's European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), in the Netherlands, the ESA ground station at Redu, in Belgium, and the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) Chilbolton Observatory in the United Kingdom.

Chilbolton's 25-metre antenna made it possible to acquire the signals from GIOVE-A and analyse them in detail to verify their conformance with the Galileo system specification.

Analysis of the signals has allowed some adjustments to be made, re-programming the spacecraft's navigation signal generation unit to compensate for changes to the signals introduced by the amplifier that boosts them for transmission to Earth and by a filter that protects adjacent frequency bands from interference.

To achieve the correct solution, the calibrated Chilbolton station was used to receive the signals from GIOVE-A. ESA's Navigation Laboratory processed the resulting data. The signal generator manufacturer, TAS (France), calculated the new settings for the unit. Finally, the satellite manufacturer, Surrey Space Technology Limited (SSTL) uploaded the new values to the payload using their ground station at Guildford, in the United Kingdom.

Thanks to the cooperation of a large international team, GIOVE-A is now transmitting optimised signals. Research and testing continues and manufacturers are using the signals as they develop the receivers that users will need when Galileo enters operational service.

Galileo is a joint initiative between ESA and the European Commission. When fully deployed in the early years of the next decade, it will be the first civilian positioning system to offer global coverage.

Naisc ghaolmhara

[ Satellite Navigation ]

ÁBHAR CARTLAINNE: 13 MÉIT. 2007

First Colloquium on Scientific and Fundamental Aspects of the Galileo Programme

Enhancing the scientific use of Galileo and contributing to GNSS development based on scientific approaches are among the goals of the international colloquium on fundamental aspects and scientific applications of Galileo and GNSS that will be held in Toulouse from 1 until 4 October 2007 at the ‘Cité de l'Espace’.

Léigh an t-alt

[ Satellite Navigation ]

ÁBHAR CARTLAINNE: 24 BEAL. 2007

Agreement between the ESA and the GNSS Supervisory Authority

On 16 May in Paris, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA) signed a cooperation agreement related to the EGNOS and Galileo programmes.

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[ Satellite Navigation ]

ÁBHAR CARTLAINNE: 21 BEAL. 2007

Galileo rubidium clocks – a year of in-orbit experience

Europe’s first satellite-borne rubidium clocks have been in orbit for over a year. There is good news for the building of the Galileo system: the results obtained from GIOVE-A’s first year of operations show performance that is largely in line with the specifications.

Léigh an t-alt

[ Satellite Navigation ]

ÁBHAR CARTLAINNE: 04 BEAL. 2007

GIOVE-A transmits first navigation message

Earlier this week, GIOVE-A successfully transmitted its first navigation message, containing the information needed by user receivers to calculate their position. Prior to reaching this milestone, the satellite had been broadcasting only the data needed for measuring the receiver-to-satellite distance.

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Naisc ghaolmhara

Galileo website (European Commission)

Déan iniúchadh

European GNSS Agency, GSA

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Chilbolton and GIOVE A

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SSTL

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