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Europe's Galileo Program In Serious Trouble
elrous0 writes "Various news outlets are reporting that Europe's Galileo program is facing a serious financial and technical crisis and may be permanently stalled. The European program, designed to be a superior answer to the US's GPS — and, more critically, not controlled by the US — has faced numerous hurdles since its inception. To date the Galileo program has succeeded in launching only one of its 30 planned satellites and has been beset by delays and cost overruns. Apparently, squabbling between the eight companies in the consortium behind the project is responsible for many of the problems. The project is now threatened with an EU takeover. But some doubt that even an infusion of EU capital can save the flagging program."
I'm a EU citizen, and I applauded the Galileo program. Especially, because at least we would gain a bit independence to the US. (I was for a European Army too, provided that all national armied be disbanded... That idea was highly critisized by the US too). Anyway, this is typical EU technology stuff. Good idea in the beginning, bureaucracy kicks in, budgets get busted, scientists get frustrated and leave for the greener pastures in the US (or elsewhere), etc... etc... etc...
Eurofighter... same kind of mess. The only thing the EU is good at is creating papers and using my tax money. Okay, that and technically they are responsible for keeping peace (within EU members states) for over 50 years. A fucking long time in Europes history.... Well, it's a high price for peace, but it's the only reason I'm not against the EU.
Ahhh...the great dumpster continuum. Many a free computer will be found there. -- sowth (748135)
For those not old enough to remember, it still sounds very familiar.
[Insert pithy quote here]
This is what happens when you dive into a program like this motivated by little more than spite.
Emotions wax and wane. If you project is based off little more than the sentiment of "Fscking Americans...", so too will the ability of the project to function.
Is a re-implementation of a GPS-like system a laudable goal? SURE!
Is the "Fscking Americans..." sentiment a good basis for such a goal? NO EFFING WAY!
And, if the simple goal of having a product like this outside of American control remains the primary goal, it's just doomed to fail. All you'll do is spur the people working on the GPS system to out-innovate you and out-compete you.
"Gailileo offers X resolution"
"GPS offers variable resolutions up to 3X+1, is time-tested and stable, has thousands of apps in-place already, yadda yadda, oh and did we mention yadda? Oh, and our licensing terms will cost you less than half what any competitors can offer you. Do the math..."
Chas - The one, the only.
THANK GOD!!!
The original GPS program was built by the DOD, meaning nearly unlimited funds. Since GPS doesn't require subscription, i can't really imagine much of a business model for something like this. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for new tech, but really why is this needed? Does anybody really need anything better than CM accuracy (which is possible with today's tech). I suppose that i can see maybe construction crews and such benefiting from a system with extreme accuracy, but a site-based positioning system seems to be a better approach for something like that.
NewslilySocial News. No lolcats allowed.
Its a very silly argument though not without merit since I would be a fool to looking back 60 years now. But still I think there are much more pressing matters at hand than to worry about the US taking care of your navigational needs.
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Beneath the PR gloss the US government has always acted in its own interest to a large extent (don't take that as a criticism, any government in its position would the same). However, in recent years this has become significantly more pronounced with the hawkish arrogance of Bush and co. In particular, Tony Blair's conceit that he has any real influence over the Bush administration is laughable, and has been for some time now. Bush will only do what Blair wants if he was going to do it anyway; out of the PR highlight, U.S. government staff have admitted as much.
I'm sure you'll excuse me if I say that I don't trust the Bush-led government one fucking bit. When push came to shove, if they were forced to choose, they'd act in their own self-interest. Even if the US Democrats won the next election, there's no guarantee that they'd be significantly better, or how long it would be before the Bush-types regain power.
As I said, I personally think it's undesirable to rely on the US-controlled system. You can take this as an anti-U.S. rant or not; what it comes down to IMHO is that we need a system under our own control, not something that can be yanked from under our feet if it proves inconvenient to our allies.
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Well, actually, I think the EU is really just the Germans and the French finally figuring out how to do jointly what they've been trying unsuccessfully to do independently for the last 300-odd years -- conquer the rest of Europe.
Seriously: they have a waiting list to get in. How slick is that? You've got countries falling over themselves, remaking themselves in your image, in order to be part of your empire. Not too shabby.
"Ladies and gentlemen, my killbot features Lotus Notes and a machine gun. It is the finest available."
Concorde, Airbus, Galileo - great job, guys.
Can't wait until you all get fed up with US control of the Internet, and decide to make your own internet. Good luck with that one too.
I never said it wasnt a little worrying. But much like the argument that the EU has about internet control... you guys much like the US it's self have MUCH BIGGER PROBLEMS than to be pissing in each others pool over something less than 10 years ago we used to use a compass and other tools.
"Slashdot, where telling the truth is overrated but lying is insightful."
Oh please. China, India, and Russia will be the immediate geopolitical threats to both the US and the EU. I find it unlikely that the US and the EU (should it exist in some form in 25-50 years) will come to blows with those other threats to fend off. The simple truth is, both sides of the Atlantic have too much in common, culturally, intellectually, and even in political systemic functions, to find themselves enemies. Both Europe and North America have significant water resources, so I doubt that will be the issue that divides us. Hopefully, 50 years from now, we will have weaned ourselves off of oil enough that it too will not be an major problem. That's assuming the EU doesn't simply collapse, which is what my money is on.
So, a project designed by a committee with no real purpose other than to say "this is my toy" failed. I am completely shocked and surprised.
*rolling of eyes*
GPS is a privilege, not a right. The US Government was kind enough to say, "okay, citizens, you can use it, too, but with a tad less accuracy." Well, a few years later, it seems some people get a stick up their butt and suddenly think that GPS is their God-given right. Well, like the internet, it isn't. And just like the internet, just because the rest of the world found a use for it and came to depend on it, doesn't justify complaints of US control.
Bearded Dragon
The US GPS system is mainly intended for military application. It might be shutdown or degraded whenever the US deem such an action appropriate. Just consider that something like the recent terrorist attacks happens again - do you think that US military would make a call to Europe before they encrypt GPS (temporarily)?
;-)).
Galileo is supposed to be a public, non-minilary service. There will be legal guarantees that it can't be turned off just because some military commander thinks it'd be a great idea. Combined with GPS, it can even bring more accuracy (GNSS).
Another reason is of course that the project generates lots of jobs and revives research in Europe (trying to prevent at least some of the researches and engineers to emmigrate to the US
Georg
Well referenced sir. An actual reference rather than a vaguely remembered comic strip version of history.
Long live the EU. I'm much happier with the current set up than how my grandfather or his father had to relate to folk from other European countries. Dying in a muddy trench shooting at somebody who's got no more grudge against me than I have against him because some rich bloke will make some money out of it or because some hereditary fool has some bizarre sense of honour to protect seems a bloody pointless exercise. I have no wish to do it.
The reasons you list initially are sound ones. Alternatives are always better, and certainly should help spur some healthy competition. Rarely is monopoly beneficial for everyone.
However, the rest of your post is pure and simple off-topic Bush bashing that really has no bearing on the discussion at hand, nor on any decision making made by current EU leadership. In fact, both the US and the EU came to an agreement in 2004 on GPS and Galileo frequencies helping to preserve a military advantage for both sides and also making both systems compatible with each other.
You may hate Bush, but while he certainly looks out for his own country's interests first and foremost (as he should), it can't be said that he and his administration have not been working with the EU on this one.
Do you think this would be America's biggest concern in times of war?
Do you think Europeans are happy about that either?
Would you personally be happy to be relying on another country's goodwill for daily needs? Well, Europeans are no different and they don't like it either.