#TestvedaNews Europe launches new Galileo satellites Europe has launched the next two satellites in the Galileo network - its version of the American Global Positioning System (GPS). The spacecraft - model numbers five and six - went up on a Soyuz rocket from French Guiana. Galileo is now finally moving towards full deployment after years of delay. The European Space Agency, which is building the system on behalf of the EU, expects to have a 26-satellite constellation in orbit by 2017. To that end, it has just ordered three big Ariane-5 rockets at a cost of half a billion euros. Europes premier launch vehicle can loft four spacecraft at a time, and this should allow for six to eight satellites to be put in space every 12 months from now on. Every spacecraft is, after in-orbit commissioning, put into operation, and is broadcasting a navigation signal that is a valid signal for users with a combined Galileo/GPS receiver; and there are already receivers on the market that have this capability. So, you have to see the service as being increased one by one, explained Esa Galileo project manager, Javier Benedicto. Credit : BCC #Testveda #News
Posted on: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 05:10:34 +0000
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