 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
ESA Welcomes Setting-Up Of Galileo Joint Undertakings
Paris - Jun 22, 2003 The appointment of Rainer Grohe as Director of the Galileo Joint Undertaking marks a further key step forward for Galileo, the first civil global satellite navigation programme. "I am delighted at Rainer Grohe's appointment to manage the first Joint Undertaking established by the European Space Agency and the European Commission", said Antonio Rodot�, ESA's Director General. "His industrial experience will be invaluable to us in carrying out this programme, which can now get fully into its stride for the benefit of everyone in Europe." The Administrative Board of the Galileo Joint Undertaking endorsed the appointment on Monday 16 June in Brussels. This means that the JU can now proceed with the various steps towards setting up the Galileo network, which will give users in Europe -- and throughout the world -- a precise and secure satellite positioning and navigation system. The Joint Undertaking's main task is to prepare for the Galileo programme deployment and operational phase, which should culminate in the selection of a concession holder to take charge of running the future Galileo operating company. That private entity will take over to finish deployment of the constellation in orbit and finalise installation of the ground segment necessary to complete the system. It will then manage the operational phase. In the near term, under the development and in-orbit validation phase, ESA is responsible for the launch of a first experimental satellite scheduled for September 2005. This will serve the dual purpose of securing the frequencies reserved for Galileo until June 2006 by the International Telecommunications Union and testing of the new technologies. To minimise the risks, two contracts will be awarded to industry by early July to build two separate satellites. Three or four test satellites will subsequently be launched for validation of the system around 2006/2007. All this adds up to a magnificent challenge for ESA and the Commission together with the Galileo Joint Undertaking: achieving European independence in the strategically-important area of satellite navigation, a sector having numerous economic spin-offs. The core of the Galileo system is its constellation of 30 satellites (27 operational, 3 spare) circling in medium earth orbit in three planes inclined at 56 deg to the equator at 23616 km altitude. This will be provide excellent global coverage. Two centres will be set up in Europe to control satellite operations and manage the navigation system. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links What is Galileo? Galileo technology developments SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express GPS Applications, Technology and Suppliers
Galileo GIOVEA Using Marotta Equipment For Its Propulsion Systems
Cheltenham, England (SPX) Jan 09, 2006Marotta UK is pleased to announce that it designed, developed and qualified equipment for the cold gas propulsion systems on board the Galileo GIOVE-A, part of Europe's Galileo navigation program, successfully launched by Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL). |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
