Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Second Galileo Test Satellite Now in Orbit

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the still-plugging-away dept.

Simon (S2) writes to mention that Europe's second Galileo navigation satellite reached orbit this past weekend. Galileo is promising to offer several technological advances in comparison to the US-based GPS system but no longer promises to be a guaranteed service. "The Galileo programme now seems certain to go ahead, after a prolonged and painful shift from partly-private financing of the construction to public funds taken from unspent EU farm subsidies. This money would normally have been returned to donor nations, with the UK, Germany and the Netherlands as the biggest three. London MPs have expressed doubt as to whether the UK will receive value for the money it will pay, but have acknowledged that the British government doesn't actually have any choice about Galileo under EU funding rules."

13 of 157 comments (clear)

  1. Two?!!? by ArcherB · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wow! They are up to two satellites? Does this mean I can tell which hemisphere I'm on?

    --
    There is no "I disagree" mod for a reason. Flamebait, Troll, and Overrated are not substitutes.
    1. Re:Two?!!? by mangamuscle · · Score: 4, Funny

      It all depends, if you are an US Citizen it would be a moot point since you would not recognize any geographical location outside your backyard.

    2. Re:Two?!!? by Zerth · · Score: 2, Funny

      Even better, they can tell in which of 4 possible locations on the earth you are!

      You're either in sight of satellite A, B, both, or neither.

      That really narrows it down!

      Of course for the case of both, you are probably already in orbit, so that really doesn't count as "on earth".

      Lets stick with three then. We can claim a 50% improvement on the number of locations you could be in over the previous 2(can see satellite/can't see satellite).

      Whew, and I'm spent. Good job.

    3. Re:Two?!!? by ArcherB · · Score: 5, Funny

      It all depends, if you are an US Citizen it would be a moot point since you would not recognize any geographical location outside your backyard. My backyard? You mean Canada?
      --
      There is no "I disagree" mod for a reason. Flamebait, Troll, and Overrated are not substitutes.
    4. Re:Two?!!? by fred+fleenblat · · Score: 4, Funny

      You are misinformed. The galileo satellites are the first of a new breed of reverse GPS. Using your known location on earth, the satellite(s) triangulate THEIR location and consult an on-board map of turn-by-turn directions so that they can find nearby gas stations, restaurants, and space stations. It's the first step in establishing a network of McDonalds in orbit, a necessity before space colonization can begin.

    5. Re:Two?!!? by jbeaupre · · Score: 3, Funny

      Give us some credit. We most certainly do recognize locations outside our backyard. "Overthere" is a well recognized location. But my memory fails me trying to remember some of the other well known places.

      --
      The world is made by those who show up for the job.
    6. Re:Two?!!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      It all depends, if you are an US Citizen it would be a moot point since you would not recognize any geographical location outside your backyard. My backyard? You mean Canada?

      Nope. Canada is our front yard, with well trimmed grass and a white picket fence; the back yard, where the septic tank and broken down cars are located is in the other direction./p.

    7. Re:Two?!!? by jbeaupre · · Score: 3, Funny

      North pole / Where Santa lives Heaven Hell Outer space Bibleland "back where they came from"

      --
      The world is made by those who show up for the job.
    8. Re:Two?!!? by pjt33 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Texas?

  2. Ssh by pjt33 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Simple: as far as English politics is concerned (and UK politics to a lesser extent), once you pass outside the M25 you enter a deserted wasteland which extends as far as the Channel, the North Sea and the Irish Sea (or possibly the Atlantic, but no Londoner has ever travelled that far to check).

    On the other hand, I wouldn't tell them. Just keep quiet and maybe they won't interfere with your life too much.

    1. Re:Ssh by mikael · · Score: 2, Funny

      I remember reading in the "Three Of a Kind" annual (with Lenny Henry), a Londoners freeway map of the UK. It was quite simple. It read:

      Scotland
      |
      |
      | M1 (The North ^)
      |
      London

      There was nothing between London and Scotland except for the narrow strip of the M1.

      --
      Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
  3. Re:Galileo? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    The GPSIII contract is expected to be awarded sometime in the next week. I will also know whether or not I will be laid off in the same time frame...

  4. Re:Galileo? by Randall311 · · Score: 2, Funny

    as a European, I'm not comfortable with a critical infrastructure like GPS in the hands of the US.

    If you don't like it then you should launch your own damn satellites and... oh wait never mind.

    And you're gonna need a lot more than just two! Better steal some more money from the farmers...