GPS isn’t the only navigation system around. The European Space Agency (ESA) is developing the Galileo Navigation System for the European Union. Unlike GPS, it will be under civilian control. But the two systems aren’t all that different. SiGe Semiconductor’s highly integrated SE4120L receiver uses software-defined radio (SDR) techniques to comply with both navigation standards.

The Galileo system uses 30 satellites in three orbits 23,222 km high with a 56° inclination to the equator for full world coverage. The satellites transmit on the same frequencies as GPS, but the signals use a different modulation scheme. The CDMA signals are easily sorted out and distinguished from one another because of their unique codes.

GPS uses binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) modulation while Galileo uses a new form of modulation called binary offset carrier (BOC) 1.1. This difference lets the United States or the ESA block each other’s signals whenever necessary. The Galileo system is more accurate than the GPS system. It provides a 1-m margin of error, whereas GPS has a 3-m margin.

Thanks to an agreement between the U.S. and the ESA, GPS and Galileo are complementary, so their coverage of the Earth is far more complete than each system alone. All the major gaps across the globe are filled in, making reception more reliable from almost anywhere—if you have a receiver that covers both systems. That’s where the SiGe SE4120L comes in.
[via elecdesign]

During public hearings of a draft national space program for 2007 - 2011, Deputy Director General of the National Space Agency of Ukraine Eduard Kuznetsov said that some projects of the program might be included into the first European space program, which is presently being drafted, “Cabinet’s press office” reported.

Among the projects he first of all mentioned creating a space Ionosat system for comprehensive study of seismic-ionospheric and solar-Earth connections and their impact on technological and biological processes on the Earth. The program is supposed to start in 2010. Among the program’s likely participants were named Poland, Turkey and China.

Europe’s navigation system requires new receiver designs to make use of the transmissions from its satellite constellation. European industry is developing and supplying receivers for the in-orbit validation of the system.
 
With the launch on 28 December 2005 of GIOVE-A, the first Galileo satellite, Galileo, a joint programme of the European Space Agency and the European Commission, became a reality in space.GIOVE-A allowed Europe to secure the frequencies allocated to Galileo by the International Telecommunications Union and test the new, critical technologies needed for this future, civil satellite navigation system. The main component of the mission is, of course, the satellite built by Surrey Satellite Systems Ltd in the United Kingdom. However, the validation mission would not have been possible without several developments on the ground and, in particular, the equipment that allows reception of the signals transmitted by the satellite.
[full article ESA]

 India and the European Union (EU) would conclude soon an agreement providing for New Delhi’s participation in the multi-billion dollar Galileo Global Navigation Satellite System.

Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon told reporters here that the talks on the agreement have reached an advanced stage and it could be ready for signing.

He was briefing media about the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Britain and Finland. In Helsinki, Singh will attend the India-EU Summit and it is likely that the agreement may be signed during the visit.

The two sides inked a framework agreement in September last year during the visit of British Prime Minister Tony Blair here.

The Galileo programme, a joint venture of European Commission and European Space Agency initiative, represents the first global satellite positioning and navigation system deployed at an estimated cost of 3.4 billion Euros.

[via hindu.com]

Fourteen laser ranging stations participated in a campaign to track ESA’s GIOVE-A satellite during the spring and summer of 2006, providing invaluable data for the characterisation of the satellite’s on-board clock. The campaign was coordinated by the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) and the GIOVE Processing Centre at ESA-ESTEC.

GIOVE-A, developed by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (UK), was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome on 28 December 2005 and placed into a medium Earth orbit with an altitude of 23 260 km. Carrying a payload consisting of rubidium clocks, signal generation units and a phase array of individual L-band antenna elements, GIOVE-A started broadcasting Galileo signals on 12 January, securing the frequencies allocated by the International Telecommunications Union for the Galileo system.

The performance characterisation of the on-board clocks is significantly enhanced by the use of Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR), a high precision technique for orbit determination that is independent of the navigation signal generation. The technique is based on a global network of stations that measure the round flight time of ultra short laser pulses to satellites equipped with Laser Retro Reflectors (LRR). Laser ranging provides instantaneous range measurements of millimetre-level precision which can be used to derive accurate orbit data.

GIOVE-A is equipped with a LRR having 76 corner cubes, manufactured by IPIE of Russia, which provides a return energy 40% higher than GPS reflectors. The use of SLR data allows a more robust orbit determination, and thus a more accurate clock characterisation. In addition, certain satellite properties relevant to navigation, such as the offset between the centre of mass and the centre of the navigational phase centre, can be verified and calibrated.
[full story by physorg.com]

 Nokia said it has signed a patent-licensing deal with California-based navigation technology firm Trimble in a move that will strengthen the location services it offers to its customers.

The agreement gives Nokia exclusive rights to use Trimble’s patents covering location technologies such as GPS and Galileo for its wireless devices.

Nokia said it also has the right to sub-license the patents to other companies.
[via forbes.com]

All 17 participating European Union member states provided their extra share of money in time for the European Space Agency’s August 24 deadline, even though Galileo’s E1.1 billion in-orbit validation phase went €400 million over budget. The European Commission earlier pledged €200 million towards the funding gap and now ESA member states have agreed to provide the remaining €200 million. The largest contributors are the UK, Germany, Italy and France, each at a 16.9 percent share.

South Korea Inks On. The European Union signed South Korea to the Galileo project, in Helsinki on September 9 at a EU-South Korea summit.

The two parties will cooperate on radio spectrum, scientific research and training, industrial matters, trade and market development, standards, certification and regulatory measures, ground augmentation systems, security, liability and cost recovery.

China Barges In. China registered with the International Telecommunication Union its intent to use frequencies close to Galileo’s — perhaps in retaliation for the European refusal to admit China into senior Galileo management.

According to speculation, China seeks to participate in the program in order to launch Galileo satellites on its Long March boosters and to learn how to build its own space-based positioning, navigation, and timing system. The Chinese also wish to manufacture commercial Galileo receivers for a potentially lucrative market.

Purportedly for military and security reasons, the Europeans decided not to promote China to full Galileo membership. China’s regional Beidou system, while suited for guiding long-range missiles, lacks the multi-faceted aspects, both military and commercial, of GPS, GLONASS, and, eventually, Galileo. China now has a broader global satnav system, dubbed Compass, on its drawing boards.

Giove-B in 2007. Galileo’s second test satellite will not launch this fall as scheduled, but will wait until early 2007, after a short circuit occurred during final testing in Italy.
[via gpsworld.com]

Saudi Arabia is planning to change its civil aviation navigation system from ground based to satellite based in phases, according to Muhammad Al-Salimi, director of air corridors at General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA).“The new system will be implemented partially at this stage as the total shifting to the new international navigation system requires time and should pass through different phases,” he told Arab News.

Al-Salimi said the Kingdom would enter into serious negotiations with a number of countries under the umbrella of the International Civil Aviation Authority to set out laws on the use of satellites for air navigation.

He said the Kingdom would participate in the activities of the International Civil Aviation Organization to develop and modernize civil aviation systems, set out new regulations, and modernize the management of air traffic.

“The shift from ground-based system to satellite-based also requires qualified manpower,” he said. “Consequently, the GACA will conduct intensive training courses for its air traffic control staff in satellite and digital communication.”

The satellite system is called Galileo and is the first global satellite positioning and navigation system designed specifically for civilian use.

He said the authority was currently applying satellite communication in some airlines. The objective is to help airlines save time by reducing flight duration. This will also increase air traffic and attract foreign airline companies, he explained.

Al-Salimi made this statement while addressing a meeting of the working group to implement future navigation systems. The meeting was organized by the GACA.

Opening the meeting, GACA President Abdullah Al-Rehaimy said he was looking forward to setting out mechanisms that help Arab civil aviation administrations and airline companies to set up air corridors to provide airlink to aircraft equipped with FANS1A satellite air navigation systems in Arab skies.
[via arabnews]

SiGe Semiconductor says that it is ready to launch the world’s first Galileo-ready receiver for mass market consumer electronics, which will enable the integration of GPS style navigation services into portable devices including mobile phones.

Galileo is a new satellite system that will greatly enhance navigation and positioning performance compared with the existing GPS system. The combination of GPS and Galileo will improve user experience of location based services by enabling products to determine position data much more consistently, more quickly, and with greater accuracy than with GPS alone. These benefits are expected to drive a significant opportunity, as the global satellite navigation market is expected to reach US$30 billion by the time the Galileo system becomes operational in 2008.

The SE4120 allows consumer device manufacturers to capitalise on this market by designing Galileo-ready systems even as the standards are being finalised. The software-based receiver architecture ensures that changes to the standards can be supported with simple software upgrades. This allows manufacturers to design their systems now, ensuring they are among the first to market with Galileo-ready products. The software-defined architecture also minimises board area, power consumption, and cost - benefits ideal for high-volume portable consumer electronics.
[via cellular-news]