European Union governments agreed Friday to jointly complete the development of the much-delayed Galileo satellite navigation project after mollifying Spain, which had demanded a bigger stake in the venture. Spain was the lone holdout in a 26-1 vote at an EU meeting on moving ahead with the $5 billion undertaking. In seeking unanimity, the EU later won Spain's approval with a deal that said a secondary ground station - planned for Spain to monitor emergency services on Galileo channels - may one day be a full-blown ground control station if Spain pays for that upgrade.
The European Commission set a Dec. 31 deadline for final approval of the satellite program. When completed, by 2013, it is expected to rival the American global positioning system, which also is satellite-based. On Nov. 23, EU governments agreed to a taxpayer bailout for the project, several months after a consortium of private companies walked away from it in a financing dispute. Most of the $3.5 billion needed to complete Galileo will come from unused EU farm funds. In an 11th-hour move Friday, Spain demanded a ground control station as part of the network of 30 satellites that will beam navigation signals to earth. The Galileo program had only foreseen two: one near Munich and another near Rome.
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The European Commission set a Dec. 31 deadline for final approval of the satellite program. When completed, by 2013, it is expected to rival the American global positioning system, which also is satellite-based. On Nov. 23, EU governments agreed to a taxpayer bailout for the project, several months after a consortium of private companies walked away from it in a financing dispute. Most of the $3.5 billion needed to complete Galileo will come from unused EU farm funds. In an 11th-hour move Friday, Spain demanded a ground control station as part of the network of 30 satellites that will beam navigation signals to earth. The Galileo program had only foreseen two: one near Munich and another near Rome.
View: Full Story on SiliconValley.com
Otherwise I should start moaning about the US justice department investigating BAE systems.
Otherwise I should start moaning about the US justice department investigating BAE systems.
That would make sense if they had any idea that there were companies that weren't American ... <snipped>
Last edited by neufuse on 01 Dec 2007 - 15:34
Last edited by neufuse on 01 Dec 2007 - 15:36
Hahahaha. Oh boy.
You fit right in the slot of the American stereotype, I hope you realize.
Uninformed of global politics, proud of country despite president running the economy into the ground and eroding rights day by day, objectifying women, and especially French.
Jackpot. Let me guess... You just love NASCAR and think Formula 1 is rubbish? Heh.
Last edited by PureLegend on 01 Dec 2007 - 18:50
Agree, it's amazing, sometimes* even the most intelligent Americans seem brainwashed about the rest of the world.
(*And by sometimes I mean it literally, most are perfectly sensible)
Hahahaha. Oh boy.
You fit right in the slot of the American stereotype, I hope you realize.
Uninformed of global politics, proud of country despite president running the economy into the ground and eroding rights day by day, objectifying women, and especially French.
Jackpot. Let me guess... You just love NASCAR and think Formula 1 is rubbish? Heh.
Nope. I don't like NASCAR. I glad sarcasm goes unnoticed.
Last edited by PureLegend on 01 Dec 2007 - 18:50
You'll just have to thank the people that share comments with you without being sarcastic for that.
Internet 101: Don't be sarcastic if it's not obvious or hinted by smilies. Because so many aren't at all.
not some national speaker.
About generalization:
In true democracy president represents majority. American president speaks in the name of all Americans, because people gave this right to him at presidential elections. So we have all of your opinions already (majority at least). Unless of course USA is a non-democratic country.
Nukes in space I tell's ya!
Yes I know the original GPS system was put up by the US Military, but there has since been other GPS compliant systems put into space not ran by them... what I am asking is, is this following the GPS standard or are they making a brand new one that nothing is compatable with
Yes I know the original GPS system was put up by the US Military, but there has since been other GPS compliant systems put into space not ran by them... what I am asking is, is this following the GPS standard or are they making a brand new one that nothing is compatable with
It will be compatable with GPS to inprove accuracy
As someone has already mentioned, galileo is supposed to be a "civilian" positioning system rather an a military one. Although GPS is used for civilian purposes too, it's still run by the military.
It's also supposed to provide more precision
So it's all good, albeit expensive as ****!
In no particular order:
Personal navigation systems, handheld, automobile, aircraft and ships.
Your cellphone. Yes, cellphone systems rely on extremely accurate time and frequency references, most of which rely on the GPS satellites as the ultimate reference or "truth". Google "gps time and frequency" for more info.
Reliable electricity. The power delivery organizations use accurate time and frequency references for control of their complex power grids, and these references rely on GPS for their accuracy.
Network time. Most NTP servers have a (you guessed it) GPS receiver built-in to get accurate time.
Satellite communications. These systems also need precise time and frequency references, again based on GPS.
Most or all of the above items could get by without GPS, but at the cost of having extremely expensive alternative time and frequency references. Costs which would inevitably be passed on to the end-users. GPS makes it possible at a very low cost, comparatively speaking. GPS has improved the quality of our lives (if one considers cell phones an "improvement"
I wish the Europeans all the best in their endeavour.
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