ESA's Galileo: A European Version Of American GPS

If there is any purpose behind the #-Link-Snipped-#, it is something more than providing everyone with a GPS guiding system. The recent launch of Russian rocket Soyuz from its base in French Guiana marked the first ever launch of Russian Soyuz from a western country. The project though costs exceptionally high, optimists feel that the returns on Galileo or the benefits derived will be greater than the capital involved.

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Image Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)

It has never been a priority for the Global population to think about having an optional GPS navigation system. The service was earlier provided by American Systems. However a feeling of being over reliant on American system had taken hold of time since a few years back. The European Union has sought to build its own Sat-Nav system which will be compatible with American GPS and will also serve as a backup in case the later faces any troubles.

In today's era, Satellite navigation has assumed greater role across the globe which was earlier limited to guide people in strange lands to find the correct address. Nowadays many banks utilize the atomic clocks to stamp their atomic transactions while the computers and telecommunication systems use the clock to derive precise timing.

The European version of GPS is going to be a group of satellites which will revolve around the Earth at an altitude of 23,222 Km above the surface. The European countries seek to launch 27 such satellites and 3 spare satellites to outer space by the end of decade with the three important services can be started around the year 2015. The expected services are free and compatible receiver equipment to common people and another to Government agencies and law enforcement departments. The equipment for Government agencies will be of the encrypted form. One of the popular services being developed is search and rescue (SAR).

Speaking of technology, the satellites are equipped with more efficient time keeping devices. The atomic clocks are more precise than those of the American system. However the locations which are indicated by the Galileo satellites are coping with the inaccuracies of 10m. The situations and the readings obtained from the Sat-Nav systems are set to be improved to 1m once more satellites are launched. #-Link-Snipped-# like LASER retroreflector in this project to ensure fail proof operation.

With ESA having its own Sat-NAV system, it will reduce the dependence of world over the American satellite navigation system. We can then ensure a more robust GPS system without worrying about the failure of anyone system.

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