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Navigation Satellites Over Europe

Posted by michael on from the where-is-pudge dept.

Snags writes "It looks like Europe is getting its own equivalent to WAAS (a set of ground stations and geostationary satellites which relay information to help GPS accuracy in the US). The EGNOS system system is having a base station inaugurated in Langen, Germany this week. The system augments signals from GPS and Russia's Glonass to provide 2-meter accuracy in Europe. This is the first stage of the Galileo system reported earlier, and I'm sure these satellites and base stations will perform the same function once the Galileo constellation is flying."

11 of 155 comments (clear)

  1. how to get a job there? by DrStrangeLoop · · Score: 4, Interesting

    i am curious, what kind of skill set would be necessary to apply for a job there? i have a unix background, but no knowledge about astronomy/ space tech whatsoever [although i think the whole thing is rather interesting]. maybe someone in the /. community has some ideas on how to get into this industry?

    1. Re:how to get a job there? by reddish · · Score: 5, Informative

      Well a large part of my job is space-related (I'm a software engineer) and from what I have seen the three most important things are: * be good at your specialism * the ability to communicate with people that have a different specialism * the willingness to learn a bit of domain knowledge (e.g. physics) The fun thing about the space industry is that most people are highly motivated, and good at what they do - you won't last otherwise. Also, you cannot go far without at least an M.Sc. degree in this world. Although the economy is struggling a bit right now, people with truly good computer skills are rare, even in the space sector. I was pleaseantly surprised to find that I could really contribute something there. Despite its image, space is really a quite conservative business with regard to new technologies; the "proven technology" doctrine is quite strong for obvious reasons. New developments come by way of evolution rather that revolution, and you have to be able to work like that. The best way to get into space-related work is via the industry; many big companies have a space division where most of the actual work is done. The role for ESA is mostly setup and monitoring of projects; the big bucks (and therefore the most jobs) are with the companies that get the contracts. I don't know if the prime contractor(s) for GALILEO have already been established but that is probably where you should look.

    2. Re:how to get a job there? by XenonDif · · Score: 5, Funny

      Just get a job at the CIA. They'll take care of the details like training you and slipping you into the country.

  2. Axis of Evil by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Satellite navigation is a weapon of mass destruction. Let's bomb them now!

  3. Unless US blows it up.... by dackroyd · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Dupe post for dupe story....

    Tragically we know how the US would like to react:
    http://www.eetimes.com/sys/news/OEG20030522S0050

    The nation's largest intelligence agency by budget and in control of all U.S. spy satellites, NRO is talking openly with the U.S. Air Force Space Command about actively denying the use of space for intelligence purposes to any other nation at any time not just adversaries, but even longtime allies, according to NRO director Peter Teets.

    At the National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs in early April, Teets proposed that U.S. resources from military, civilian and commercial satellites be combined to provide "persistence in total situational awareness, for the benefit of this nation's war fighters." If allies don't like the new paradigm of space dominance, said Air Force secretary James Roche, they'll just have to learn to accept it. The allies, he told the symposium, will have "no veto power."

    This would not go down to well at all. I know the US economy/military is the biggest in the world - but I still think that a trade war/shooting war with every other country in the world isn't the best way of improving the lives of American citizens.

    --
    "Free software as in beer, copy protection as in racket" - Telsa Gwynne
  4. Re:Unless US blows it up.... by arcanumas · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It would not be good for anyone. Not just Americans. I am very afraid of the twisted logic working on the minds of many American officials. They think that they can enforce anything they want to everybody else , just because they have a bigger army. Things i am afraid are not that simple. EU will not stand silent and be told that can not go into space (or any other bullying US may come up with). The possibility of a future conflict arises quickly.
    I would love to argue about how the size an army MANY times in history has proven to be irrelevant, but considering that both US and EU are "nuclear enabled" (TM), it is made clear that none can win is such a case.
    I hust hope that this "we are the ones" mentality stops before it is too late.
    Thank you.

    --
    Slashdot Sig. version 0.1alpha. Use at your own risk.
  5. How dependent is Galileo on US? by ghoul · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Does anybody know how dependent the Galileo system will be on the US. I mean how many components will be manufactured in the states and will the states have export veto powers like it currently has on military equipment. For example when Israel wanted to sell radars to China they could not as some components were from US companies. Will the same apply to Galileo as in if the US decides some state like North Korea doesnt deserve GPS then will the Europeans be prevented from selling it ? Do note these decisions are a lot of times economic rather than related to national security. For example the states is pissed abt the russians selling Nuclear reactors to Iran not because these reactors can be used for weapons but because the contracts did not go to American companies and under current sanctions American companies cannot even subcontract for the Russians.
    Or maybe Galileo is Europes way of getting out of exactly such a situation.
    On a related note recently when India was evaluating Advanced Jet Trainers the two options were the British and the French but the French were favoured as they use no American components and are thus not hostage to American policy. India has suffered on this count earlier. India used to have a lot of Sea King helicopters produced by the British with American components but after the Nuclear tests the American prevented the British from supplying spare parts

    --
    **Life is too short to be serious**
    1. Re:How dependent is Galileo on US? by AlCoHoLiC · · Score: 5, Informative

      US GPS and Russion GLONASS are operated by millitary. The Galileo project should assure Europe's indepenedence. Criticism and lobbying by US makes the project even more important. Galileo will send strong political message to US goverment.

      Considerable industrial returns in manufacturing and services are expected as well. Besides free public accessible signal there will be commercial data stream modulated on basic signal. Users will pay for guaranteed availability and greater precision. AFAIK there should be also high precision signal available only to military and certain public authorities (regulation of air, sea and road transport comes to mind).

      THigh lattitude (northern Europe) coverage of GPS isn't very good. By placing satellites in orbits at a greater inclination to the equatorial plane than GPS, Galileo will achieve better coverage at high latitudes.

  6. Re:Unless US blows it up.... by bad_fx · · Score: 5, Insightful
    You know, reading that article, I was ready to post that the program didn't really include "blowing them up." But then re-reading the following part... well hell, it could very well include blowing them up. Geez:

    The program will include two components: the Counter Communication System, designed to disrupt other nations' communication networks from space; and the Counter Surveillance Reconnaissance System, formed to prevent other countries from using advanced intelligence-gathering technology in air or space.
  7. US cant jam Galileo by ghoul · · Score: 5, Informative

    One of the cleverest things the Galileo designers have come up with is to put their signal right in the middle of the US military GPS signal with an encrypted overlay. This means if in times of war the US tries to jam Galileo they jam their own military GPS and everyone is back to square one with civilian grade GPS which in any case everyone upto a Taxi driver has

    --
    **Life is too short to be serious**
  8. US would like to say thanks and ... by theBunkinator · · Score: 4, Funny

    US would like to say thanks and has asked the Middle East & Far East Asia to install similar systems, to make it easier and cheaper in case we need to LIBERATE THE HECK OUT OF ANOTHER COUNTRY