Russia's space agency is preparing to launch eight satellites that will nearly complete a system designed to compete directly, by 2009, with the existing global positioning system technology of the United States. GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System), is expected to begin operations over Russian territory later this year, followed by coverage of adjacent parts of Europe and Asia. By controlling the only fully operational satellite navigation system in existence today, the United States holds a strategic advantage in times of conflict, according to Russian military officials. In theory, the United States could deny GPS navigation signals to countries with which it has a dispute. Such actions could affect industries as diverse as agriculture, oil production and banking, to say nothing of military operations. For the most part, the Russian system promises to be functionally equivalent to the existing GPS system, however it could be more accurate than GPS in regions where Russia has better access to terrestrial navigation aids. Some companies are already designing dual-chip navigation devices that support both systems.
While Russia attempts its own GPS alternative, China has already launched satellites for its own Baidu system. The European Union's Galileo positioning system is still in the planning stages, having hit a snag with its private contractors over potential profits. The European Galileo Global Navigation Satellite System is scheduled to come online in 2011 with higher precision than the existing GPS and GLONASS networks. However, delays put the Galileo project more than four years off schedule and still counting.
News source: DailyTech
While Russia attempts its own GPS alternative, China has already launched satellites for its own Baidu system. The European Union's Galileo positioning system is still in the planning stages, having hit a snag with its private contractors over potential profits. The European Galileo Global Navigation Satellite System is scheduled to come online in 2011 with higher precision than the existing GPS and GLONASS networks. However, delays put the Galileo project more than four years off schedule and still counting.
News source: DailyTech
Yay for competition, yay for cheaper products, yay for stopping a monopoly, that game always sucked.
[/cartman voice]
Yay for competition, yay for cheaper products, yay for stopping a monopoly, that game always sucked.
[/cartman voice]
Its not a monopoly if its free is it? the US gives free GPS to everyone, if they choose to block an area its their right to do
Yay for competition, yay for cheaper products, yay for stopping a monopoly, that game always sucked.
[/cartman voice]
Its not a monopoly if its free is it? the US gives free GPS to everyone, if they choose to block an area its their right to do
Although its obviously a huge waste of money for Russia who could really do with spending the money on more important things, it does benefit everyone (at least in Europe), with more coverage. The EU system will also benefit everyone with considerably increased accuracy...
you know as opposed to the American one that only lasted a few years, sheesh, if you're goignt o insylt a nation, you may want to know what you're talking about first. I know it's alwlays the funt hing to attack russian construction and reliability, while the fact is that Russian tech, at leats in Aeronatutics and space tech is actually more reliable than American, afterall who kept launching supplies and crew to the ISS when the shuttles can't do it ?
You make it sound like the US built a space station and it fell apart. You do know that it was never actually built don't you?
Last edited by Ravensworth on 07 Apr 2007 - 00:55
You make it sound like the US built a space station and it fell apart. You do know that it was never actually built don't you?
I was under the impression that the US did build Skylab, which while impressive, had nothing on both the longetivity of Mir and its ability to keep operating on a budget that would probably not even pay for a new tile for the shuttle.
So, sure, its a lot of money, and they're unlikely to make their costs back from selling access to it (unless they charge a huge amount), but in the end some of the benefits will pay for the system.
I believe the European system will cover the whole world, that includes Canada. Theres even speculation that Canada may help fund it. Many countries outside Europe are funding it, including South Korea, India, Israel and China.
You can find more information at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_Positioning_System
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/energy_transport/galileo/
http://www.galileoju.com/page.cfm?voce=m&a...01&plugIn=1
I wonder how often satellites collide in space...if they do at all but don't hear about it much.
Chinas and Russias ideas sound a bit silly, Europe's actually would push things forward but like all things european lately, money and time issues.
With recent actions of USA I wouldn't call it silly...
About 10 years ago the Russian satellites were more accurate... but then the Pres of the US decided to turn off the selective availability which put an error into the satellites that only the military could decipher.
So from that time forward the US citizens had military level accuracy with all gps products.
This was saved and kept in an active reserve (selective availability) in case of war; where the selective availability could be re-established so only OUR military could use maximum accuracy with US satellites.
Now with the Russian satellites coming into play to ALL people, good and BAD; this represents a security risk to the US.
So this is humbling... but I guess inevitable...
Russians are security risk for US. So we should kill them as soon as possible. After all Americans are the GOOD people, not Russians.
I guess that depends on what you want...
To the person who said that the information would be avaliable to everyone good and bad, I think you're referring to Russia's history of seeling weapons to the highest bidder by the millions. Russia learned from that with the AK-47, they flooded the market and now can't sell the new AN-94 to anyone and don't have the money to give it to anyone besides Spetsnaz and certain other military and paramilitary groups.
Yes that was exactly my point.
I should have worded it better, the main concern was that the terrorists had another source to use to their benefit.
My apologies if it was taken the other way.
I use on a daily basis GPS Gyro compasses that fail to function if 5 or more sat's are not in view.
In europe today on my system im tracking 5 sat's one blocked and the system falls over.
I spoke to my agent in the gulf he is tracking 9 sat's the agent in the USA he is tracking 9 sats aswell.
With a dual GPS/GLONASS system i should always have 12 sats in view thus making the system reliable. with the tri system we are making GPS/GLONASS/Galileo system it will track approx 16 sat's thus making the system almost fail proof.
It's a global economy and it will just continue to become more global.
Good Job Russia!
Commenting has either been disabled on this article or you are not logged in. Click here to login or register, its free!
Note: Anonymous commenting is disabled in order to keep the quality of responses to a high standard.