First of all: the first experimental telecom satellite for trying out some technologies is in the sky: Artemis, the same satelite that was earlier on/. about telecommunications with lasers and ion propulsion. To learn more read this: http://www.esa.int/export/esaSA/ESA8QIPZ9NC_teleco m_0.html
Second: GPS is not at all that good at high lattitudes. The scandinavian countries (part of the EU and ESA) complain about this. For the EU (and Russia), having big populations there, this is crucial. Having a wider coverage should make Galileo competetive.
Third: the new systhem must replace GPS AND be a better systhem. Far superior recieving quality...
Fourth: the US was asked first to bring the GPS in an international body, but refused./. being an open source community I would have expected that point would stick....
Slashdot Mirror
First of all: the first experimental telecom satellite for trying out some technologies is in the sky: Artemis, the same satelite that was earlier on /. about telecommunications with lasers and ion propulsion. To learn more read this: http://www.esa.int/export/esaSA/ESA8QIPZ9NC_teleco m_0.html
...
/. being an open source community I would have expected that point would stick ....
Second: GPS is not at all that good at high lattitudes. The scandinavian countries (part of the EU and ESA) complain about this. For the EU (and Russia), having big populations there, this is crucial. Having a wider coverage should make Galileo competetive.
Third: the new systhem must replace GPS AND be a better systhem. Far superior recieving quality
Fourth: the US was asked first to bring the GPS in an international body, but refused.