The historical launch comes after years of internal battles over the financing of the multi-billion euro project, which is set to become the most prominent competitor of the US's GPS (see 'Background').
The European Commission estimates that the 30 satellites which will eventually constitute the Galileo constellation will all be launched by 2020. As from the end of 2012, a pair of satellites is set to be sent in orbit every quarter “with the aim of having 24 satellites in the space by the end of 2014 or the beginning of 2015,” said EU Space policy spokesperson Carlo Corazza.
He clarified that for new services to be provided by Galileo “at least 18 satellites will have to be in orbit.” The quality of these services and the precision of positioning identification will grow as new satellites are launched.
Once operational, Galileo will be available to provide services for a variety of sectors, including transport, search and rescue operations, public works, oil prospection, agriculture, car navigation or mobile phones.
“A third industrial revolution”
Galileo can trigger “a third industrial revolution”, underlined the EU Commission Vice-President and Commissioner in charge of space policy Antonio Tajani, speaking to journalists ahead of the launch.
The space industry “can become the avant-guard of European industry, added Tajani. And indeed, Galileo “is a service enabler rather than a standalone service and it can act as a catalyst for economic activities,” explained an EU official who estimated the overall economic impact of the system at around €90 billion over the next 20 years.
Complementary or alternative to GPS?
EU officials underline that Galileo is meant to be complementary to GPS, rather than alternative to it. “We signed an agreement with the US in 2004 to ensure compatibility between the two systems,” remarked an EU official.
This means that new receivers are likely to be equipped in the future with both Galileo and GPS enablers. However, it will be up to chipset makers take this decision, and integrate Galileo enablers to existing models which rely exclusively on GPS.
“Galileo will be more precise than GPS and it is more flexible because it uses a higher number of frequencies,” explained a Commission official, adding that “all studies agree that future receivers will use both Galileo and GPS.” However, it remains to be seen at what speed consumers will replace their current devices and if new more powerful receivers will catch consumers’ attention.
The Commission is also working on guaranteeing the compatibility of Galileo with Russia’s satellite navigation system Glonass and with emerging Chinese and Indian initiatives. A possible overlap of used frequency is currently possible with the Chinese system and needs to be solved.
Military usage
Galileo is a programme conceived for civil purposes, as reiterated by the EU institutions on several occasions.
However, “this primarily civil vocation of the system does not stand in the way of a potential use by the military,” argues a Commission official close to the dossier.
“Nothing prevents the services provided by the system to be used, for instance, in missions related to the safety of the member states,” the official added.
COMMENTS
Obviously this is to usurp the EUs reliance on the USA's GPS system, it's more accurate at the consumer level for Christ sakes!
The most recent iPhone 4 "S" (October 2011) added support for Russia's GLONASS so I suspect chipsets with multiple frequencies to be issued in major technical devices and the like.
I have been looking forward to Galileo, it'll be interesting to see who (read: which country(s)) end up with the system when the EU breaks up!
For the cost the Iraq war the USA could have designed and launch 50 Galileo systems. Congratulations to the Europeans. We are so screwed in the USA...
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