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EU Presses Ahead With Galileo GPS System

Posted by timothy on from the directional-directive dept.

philkerr writes "The BBC is reporting that European transport ministers have agreed to the 2008 deployment of the European controlled GPS system. Costing 2.1 billion euros and creating 150,000 jobs. Is this just a pork-barrel project, or something Europe really needs to break the reliance on U.S. space technology? This was discussed on Slashdot in June when the U.S. and EU reached an agreement on its deployment."

8 of 520 comments (clear)

  1. Yeah... by Ziviyr · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It'll be nice to have a GPS system which won't be known for routine power-play dicking around.

    The US is too unstable to hold the keys to a globally relied on tech...

    --

    Someone set us up the bomb, so shine we are!
  2. First hand information by Einherjer · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I am one of those who is actually working on the EGNOS ground segment (something like the USA's WAAS). The current system test bed is designed to create a position-delta to feed with the GPS signal to make positioning more exact. Once all Galileo satellites are up, we do not rely on GPS data anymore, but we can fallback if it is possible. One thing to note, Galileo has indoor positioning.
    (Yes, Galileo will be a really independent system, comprising of many different parts, under civil guidance for civil uses.)

    One the political side, from a developers point of view, we really want to get this thing up as fast as possible because everyone I know who is developing is really really fed up with the way the US government tries to control our scientific and especially space-research specific endeavours. Since we have developed a system that is clearly superior to anything the USA have (never mind the 20 years of operation of GPS, you could have progressed too...) we really really hate it, when we get told to stop to work on it by a foreign government. To make things clear, no we don't hate Americans. We hate the way the American government is treating us, and the more they want to sabotage our projects the better our projects will be. :-)

    1. Re:First hand information by IO+ERROR · · Score: 5, Interesting
      To make things clear, no we don't hate Americans. We hate the way the American government is treating us

      We Americans hate the way the American government is treating us, too. At this point we've mostly lost control of our government. This place looks like any other third-world banana republic, except we have a new dictator every few years.

      And from a U.S. national's point of view, I really want you to get this thing up as soon as possible so I can have one in my pocket.

      --
      How am I supposed to fit a pithy, relevant quote into 120 characters?
  3. China by malx · · Score: 5, Interesting

    One of the most controversial aspects of this proposal is China's involvement. Although the EU maintains that Galileo is only for civilian use, it appears that China disagrees.

    Russia and China each have a 20% stake in the Galileo project, having invested 200 million euros. India has also pledged 300 million euros.

    Apparently the EU has promised India that Galileo would not be denied to them in the event of anything less than "global war", making its use available during more limited military conflicts. It is hard to imagine that China has negotiated anything less.

    This had led to speculation that the USA would simply shoot it down to prevent its use by hostile military powers.

    The EU Referendum blog has been covering this assiduously.

    1. Re:China by Xtian · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Oh, I see... its okay that the US uses its own GPS system for military purposes, and lets the countries it wants to also use it for military purposes, but if Europe decides to allow other countries to use Galileo for military purposes than the US is ofcourse right to shoot it down?

      Would the logical conclusion of this be that the EU has the right to shoot down the US GPS system if the EU felt the GPS system was being used by countries against the best interests of the EU?

  4. oh geeze... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Is this just a pork-barrel project, or something Europe really needs to break the reliance on U.S. space technology?

    If you missed everything else in the last few years, how about this one reminder: "freedom fries."

    All the other good reasons for it aside, that one act by congress made it very clear to all Europe that they're not dealing with adults.

  5. Re:would USA rely on French, or Estonian GPS syste by Yorrike · · Score: 5, Insightful
    "As a citizen of the US, I absolutely DO NOT want a third party to be able to accurately aim a missile at the White House, the Capitol, or a nuclear power plant."

    Last time I checked, the USA did not own space. But I suppose my disagreement with the policy of the US makes me a hostile, so my opinion counts for nothing.

    Well, they would probably grumble a little, then get to work on a way to figure out a way around it, just as they have been doing for decades.

    Rubbish. The US military and government would throw a hissy fit, demanding this and that and threatening sanctions. Just like they've done when countires have threatened other US interests and resources in the past.

    --

    Looks can be deceiving. Or CAN they?

  6. Re:10 percent unemployment in the EU by sane? · · Score: 5, Informative
    Think you have that one the wrong way round. The US national debt is over $7 trillion, 70% of US GDP. Your economy is being supported by overseas investors, if they lose confidence and withdraw their money - its the US that goes broke.

    By comparison the UK debt is 33% of GDP and the euro countries had deficit targets they had to meet (but often fudged) to join the single currency in the first place.

    The next country to suffer reversal of fortunes and crippling problems is likely to be the US: no plans as to how to deal with your deficit, big costs coming up, and no good will around the world.