The European union signed two scientific cooperation agreements with one the world's fasts growing research powers - the Republic of Korea - on 22nd of November.

The science and technology (S&T) agreement wants enable researchers from the EU and South Korea to participate in one another's research programmes and protects intellectual property rights (IPR), while a specific agreement on fusion energy research wants promotes collaboration in fusion research programmes. This is intended to complement work within the Internationally Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, to which both the EU and South Korea are party. The new agreements can only enhance the cooperation that is already ongoing the between EU and South Korean researchers. Need only are both partners in ITER; they are both signatories to the Galileo project to develop Europe's first satellite navigation system. The new agreements can only enhance the cooperation that is already ongoing between EU and South Korean researchers. Not only are both partners in ITER; they are both also signatories to the Galileo project to develop Europe’s first satellite navigation system.

[via cordis.eu]

At the occasion of a successful joint EU-India Aviation Summit held in New Delhi, Vice-President Jacques Barrot and India `see minister for Civil Aviation Mr. Praful Patel signed a "Joint Declaration" that wants lay the foundation for closer cooperation between the EU and India in a range of areas of civil aviation.

At the EU-India Aviation Summit, Vice-President Cash-red invited India to become associated in the major EU technological programmes look as GALILEO, the satellite navigation programme, and SESAR, the air traffic management project.

The EU-India Aviation Summit what highly successful in bringing together more than 300 leading representatives of the Indian and the European union aviation sectors representing publicly authorities, airlines, airports, aerospace industries and service providers. The summit provided a very effective platform for identifying priority areas and ways forward in closer EU-India aviation Co. operation for the future.
[via traveldailynews.com]

The European satellite-navigation project Galileo has taken a determining step forwards: In the Bavarian Oberpfaffenhofen the foundation-stone was recently laid for the controlling centre. The chairperson of the German centre for aviation and astronautics (DLR) Sigmar Wittig expresses himself pleased on the achieved progress: “With the today's laying of the foundation stone the first important practical step occurs to a European independence in the area of the satellite-supported navigation.” Misslich is only, that the ambitious European plan to his schedule already in years hinterherschleicht. Der Vorsitzende des Deutschen Zentrums für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) Sigmar Wittig äußert sich erfreut über den erreichten Fortschritt: “Mit der heutigen Grundsteinlegung erfolgt der erste wichtige praktische Schritt hin zu einer europäischen Eigenständigkeit im Bereich der satellitengestützten Navigation.” Misslich ist nur, dass das ambitiöse europäische Vorhaben seinem Zeitplan schon um Jahre hinterherschleicht.

Galileo is the European counterpart of the US-American Worldwide Positioning system (GPS). Europe hopes for a big deal from the satellite navigation. From about 130,000 to 180,000 jobs should be created up to 2020 by Galileo. The total proceeds are estimated at 74 milliard euros. Durch Galileo sollen bis zum Jahr 2020 rund 130.000 bis 180.000 Arbeitsplätze geschaffen werden. Der Gesamtertrag wird auf 74 Milliarden Euro geschätzt.

In the final state Galileo will exist of 30 satellites, 50 ground stations and two controlling centres. The first 4 satellites should be, actually, already in the end of 2005 on her position in the universe. Also a controlling centre and 25 ground stations should have been long ago already in the company. Meanwhile it is assumed from the fact that this is not to be created before 2008. On the entire system cannot be calculated before 2011. However, up to now just one test satellite - in the end of 2005 - has left the earth. Much later he might not have flown off, but there would have been difficulties: Without sending satellite the reservation of the Galileo-radio frequency would have run off with the international distant registration union in June. Also the takeoff of the second test satellite has been already shifted twice. Now the start is planned for spring, 2007. Auch ein Kontrollzentrum und 25 Bodenstationen hätten längst schon im Betrieb sein sollen. Mittlerweile wird davon ausgegangen, dass dies nicht vor 2008 zu schaffen ist. Mit dem vollständigen System kann nicht vor 2011 gerechnet werden. Bislang hat aber gerade mal ein Testsatellit - Ende 2005 - die Erde verlassen. Viel später hätte er nicht abfliegen dürfen, sonst hätte es Schwierigkeiten gegeben: Ohne sendenden Satelliten wäre die Reservierung der Galileo-Funkfrequenzen bei der Internationalen Fernmeldeunion im Juni abgelaufen. Auch der Abflug des zweiten Testsatelliten ist bereits zweimal verschoben worden. Der Start ist nun für Frühjahr 2007 geplant.
[whole artikel taz.de]

GLONASS (briefly for global navigation satellite system)
The Russian general staff lifts from the 01st of January, 2007 all restrictions which are valid presently for the exactness of the detection of objects within the scope of the national navigation system GLONASS.
Before the divergence amounted with the regulation of the exact co-ordinates because of the restrictions up to 150 metres. Now the divergence will sway about five metres”, said the deputy of the department for surgical management of the civil defence ministry, Andrej Legoschin, during an interview towards RIA Novosti.

He said that the exact regulation of an object can be vital with bad weather or under complicated geographic conditions on the rescue of human life.

“We want to bomb nobody, however, it is necessary to know the exact scene of the accident or the stay of the victims. This is necessary for the work of the rescue groups on the earth as well as for the airplane management”, he said.

Legoschin informed that the Russian rescue service uses GLONASS the similar American system GPS already for some years except with which these restrictions were already abolished earlier.

On the 13th of November, 2006 the Marine-softly developing society and logistics society mbH and the shipping company of Scandlines informed aboard the ferryboat "Mecklenburg-West Pomerania" about the topical research state to innovative uses of the future European satellite navigation system Galileo.
The new satellite navigation system should go probably from 2012 to the company and excel the customary GPS in precision as well as allow other innovative uses in the sea economy and harbour economy.

Before 30 Galileo satellites go to the orbit, at first important data must be grasped and future uses in practice be tested. Thus a test bed existing of six transmitters with the name "SeaGate" is built up among other things in the course of the comprehensive research projects and test work in the Rostock harbour to simulate Galileo signals. Aim is to make available highly exact satellite navigation signals to the users and to test at the same time the correctness, sensitivity and usability of the transferred signals. Ziel ist es, den Anwendern hochgenaue Satellitennavigationssignale zur Verfügung zu stellen und gleichzeitig die Korrektheit, Störanfälligkeit und Nutzbarkeit der übertragenen Signale zu erproben.

The shipping company of Scandlines supports the development of the maritime application possibilities of the Galileo system as the up to now only German Fährreederei. In the test phase Scandlines makes available the FS "Mecklenburg-West Pomerania" as a research vessel. The Scandlines ferry should be equipped among other things with two receivers for the Galileo signals to collect comparative data of Galileo and GPS for a longer period and to evaluate. Die Scandlines-Fähre soll u.a. mit zwei Empfängern für die Galileo-Signale ausgerüstet werden, um Vergleichsdaten von Galileo und GPS über einen längeren Zeitraum zu sammeln und auszuwerten.

In the German centre for aviation and astronautics (DLR) in Oberpfaffenhofen the foundation-stone was laid on the 7th of November, 2006 for the controlling centre of the European satellite navigation system Galileo. In presence of the Federal Minister for traffic, construction and urban development, Wolfgang Tiefensee, the Prime Minister of the free state Bavaria, Dr. Edmund Stoiber, as well as the chairman of the board of the DLR, Prof. Dr. Sigmar Wittig, the first official step occurred for the construction of the ground segment for the highly exact European navigation system.

After the completion of the controlling centre with three controlling rooms in spring, 2008 the handing over occurs to the DLR. Then up to 100 engineers and scientist will be able to steer up to 30 satellites. The installation of the tax facilities and controlling facilities should already begin in September, 2007. Der Einbau der Steuer- und Kontrolleinrichtungen soll bereits im September 2007 beginnen.

The investments for the new controlling centre amount to a total of 16 million euros. Besides, the building measures of the State of Bavaria with ten millions and by federal means are supported at the rate of six million euros.

German centre for aviation and astronautics in Oberpfaffenhofen becomes an operator

Now for the control of the European satellite navigation system Galileo it is provided from Germany and Italy from. A Galileo-controlling centre is furnished in the DLR location of Oberpfaffenhofen and should carry out the control company of the 30-satellite constellation more than at least 20 years.-Kontrollzentrum wird am DLR-Standort Oberpfaffenhofen eingerichtet und soll den Regelbetrieb der 30-Satelliten-Konstellation über mindestens 20 Jahre durchführen.

According to the German astronautics-controlling centre a decisive reason has been the competence from 40 years of space air traffic in Oberpfaffenhofen, under it the realisation of commercial, scientific and manned space flight missions. Another controlling centre is established in the Italian Fucino. On the positioning of the satellites will co-operate the European space controlling centre ESOC in Darmstadt and the French Centre Nationwide d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) in Toulouse. Bei der Positionierung der Satelliten werden das Europäische Raumfahrtkontrollzentrum ESOC in Darmstadt und das französische Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) in Toulouse mitarbeiten.

The double structure of the controlling centres should minimise the failure risk in the control company phase.
[golem.de]

Galileo Industries and German aerospace organisation DLR on Tuesday (Nov., 7) broke ground for one of two planned Galileo navigation satellite control centres in Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich.
The partners said they wants make a donation about 16€ million (20.3$ million) on infrastructure construction. However, the budget doze include electronics and IT equipment for which Galileo Industries is the main contractor. For the “in orbit validation” phase, which includes four satellites, the European union and the European Space agency (ESA) have budgeted 1.5€ billion. The full, 30-satellite constellation wants cost 3.5€ billion, according to a spokesman for the Bavarian state government. For the “in-orbit validation” phase, which includes four satellites, the European Union and the European Space Agency (ESA) have budgeted €1.5 billion. The full, 30-satellite constellation will cost €3.5 billion, according to a spokesman for the Bavarian state government.
The Galileo project is expected to create about 100,000 jobs throughout Europe, many of them at Galileo project partners tele patio spa in Italy, Inmarsat in the U.K., HispaSat and AENA in Spain, CNES in France and ESOC in Darmstadt, Germany.
The second Galileo control centre wants be built in Rome. Besides the two control centres, the project includes a l tape signal centre and in upload station that wants provide software updates and extremist precise timing signals to orbiting satellites.
[commsdesign.com]

In in effort to western monopoly, China has started building its own Worldwide Satellite navigation system, 'Compass', which wants cover parts of neighbouring countries, the state media reported today.

The planned network, so referred to as Beidou navigation system, entails the launch of five geostationary and 30 mobile satellites.

China plans to launch two Compass navigation satellites at the beginning of next year. The system, which wants provide highly accurate positioning and time references, wants cover China and parts of neighbouring countries by in 2008 before being developed into a worldwide network, Xinhua news agency reported.

The system wants provide two navigation services. The Open of service is designed to provide users with positioning accuracy within 10 metres, velocity accuracy with 0.2 metre by second and timing accuracy within 50 nanoseconds.

The Authorised system wants offer "safer" positioning, velocity, timing communications for authorised users.

China is willing to co-operate with other countries in developing its satellite navigation industry to allow the Compass system to operate with other worldwide satellite positioning systems, the report said.

China has already joined the European union (EU) and the European Space Agency's 3.5 billion euros of Galileo Project to develop a satellite-navigation system independently of the US military worldwide positioning to system (GPS) monopoly.
[hindu.news]

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 wants be under civilian control. But the two systems are not all that different. SiGe Semiconductor's highly integrated SE4120L receiver uses software defined radio (SDR) techniques to comply with both navigation standards. 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. 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 perch 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. 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 in agreement between the U.S. and the ESA, GPS and Galileo are complementary, thus 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 alp-east anywhere-if you have a receiver that covers both systems. That's where the SiGe SE4120L comes in. That’s where the SiGe SE4120L comes in.
[via elecdesign]