Galileo: The European satellite navigation system
Le Bourget, 13 de Junio de 2005
Accurate determination of position, at any time and anywhere, secure and reliable navigation, efficient route planning – all of these in the future will be synonymous with one name, Galileo. The new European satellite navigation system is set to be operational by the end of the decade. Unlike the American GPS system currently operating, Galileo will be a civilian system tailored to the requirements of civilian users. Galileo will open the door to new applications and markets for satellite navigation. The market potential for the Galileo system will be greatest with combined navigation, mobile telecommunications and information services. With its subsidiaries, EADS Astrium and EADS SPACE Services, EADS SPACE is a key partner on the European satellite navigation project.
30 satellites will enable positions to be determined all over the world
The Galileo satellite constellation will consist of 30 satellites orbiting the earth at an altitude of 23,222km. Receivers will determine their position in the world using the distances to at least four navigation satellites. These distances will be measured using a highly accurate time signal. The satellites will transmit time signals and the receiver will measure the time elapsed before receipt. Monitoring and control of the satellites will be take place in one or two European control centres. A global network of ground stations will be established for the transfer of data to and from the satellites. Sensor stations around the world will continuously monitor and correct the quality of the signal. A correction signal will then be transmitted to the satellites via “uplink stations”.
In May 2003, the Governments of the participating European member states agreed to proceed with the development and validation of the first four satellites of the Galileo system. A preliminary contract for the In-Orbit Validation (IOV) phase was awarded to the European consortium, Galileo Industries, in December 2004. The IOV phase, jointly funded by the EU and ESA, encompasses the development, manufacture and launch of these four flight models together with the establishment of essential ground segment elements.
EADS Astrium - the driving force behind Galileo Industries
Galileo is a joint initiative of the European Union (EU) and the European Space Agency (ESA). The first phase, which is being financed jointly by the EU Commission and ESA, extends as far as the in-orbit validation (IOV) of the system which initially requires four operational Galileo satellites to be launched into orbit.
Galileo Industries is a joint venture company specifically set up by the European space industry to address the Galileo challenge. The biggest shareholder is EADS Astrium, which owns 38%. The other shareholders are Alenia Spazio (Italy, 19%), Alcatel Space (France, 19%), Galileo Sistemas y Servicios (Spain, 12%) and Thales (France, 12%). The consortium’s headquarters are in Munich.
As the biggest shareholder of Galileo Industries, EADS Astrium is playing an important role in the development of the satellite navigation system:
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EADS Astrium Germany (Munich) is leading the design and development of the satellites. EADS Astrium Deutschland also builds components and plays an important role in the general systems engineering and on parts of the ground segment.
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EADS Astrium UK (Portsmouth) is responsible for the complex navigation technology and payload as well as for the ground control segment required for control and monitoring the satellites.
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EADS Astrium France (Toulouse) is involved in ground mission segment activities, mainly for data dissemination and planning.
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EADS Astrium Spain (Madrid) is also involved in the Galileo programme, with the aim to supply the L-band navigation antenna of the satellites and other equipment.
As a subcontractor to Galileo Industries, EADS Astrium is strongly involved in the development and construction of the Galileo System Test Bed Version 2 (GSTB V2) test satellite and is leading the Avionics subsystem. GSTB V2 will verify technologies used on the operational navigation satellites and is also required to secure the radio frequencies for Galileo. The satellite is scheduled to be launched on a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at the end of 2005.
EADS SPACE Services - strong partner in the iNavSat Consortium
After completion of the in-orbit validation phase, the procurement of the infrastructure will be financed through a Galileo concession company on the basis of a public–private partnership (PPP). Galileo is the first space technology project where the European Commission together with the European Space Agency have decided to adopt the innovative PPP approach. The concessionaire will bring together public and private investors from the financial and telecommunications sectors, as well as other interested parties to procure, deploy, operate and maintain the system, and to collect user charges for high-integrity value-added services.
EADS SPACE Services aims to play a key role in the provision of services and operations of Galileo. In partnership with Inmarsat and Thales, EADS SPACE Services has formed the consortium iNavSat, already short-listed after international competition for the role of Galileo Operating Company, the entity which will deploy and operate the constellation over a 20-year period. This ‘concessionaire’, as the company will be known, will be appointed by the Galileo Joint Undertaking (GJU) in summer 2005.
The iNavSat offer is based on thorough technical due diligence undertaken in consideration of user and market demands. The offer has been further validated using the knowledge and expertise of over 40 international iNavSat partners who are leaders in their given fields (e.g. automotive, telecommunication, information technologies, Safety of Life applications). Eight leading European banks, with some willing to contribute equity to the iNavSat investment, have approved the iNavSat financial proposal. The iNavSat offer minimises public sector contribution over the concession period.
Services for a wide range of private and commercial applications
Galileo will offer four different services:
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The Open Service (OS) is intended for mass applications such as navigation systems in passenger vehicles. Anyone equipped with a suitable terminal will be able to receive the OS signals free of charge. The open signals of Galileo and GPS will supplement the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Future terminals will be able to process signals from both satellite systems, thus enabling much more accurate determination of position - even under difficult conditions. This interoperability was the subject of an agreement signed between the EU and the USA in the spring of 2004.
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The Safety-of-Life Service (SoL) will primarily benefit safety-critical transportation applications, for example, the control of air and rail traffic. Only special, certificated terminals will be able to use the certificated SoL service. The Galileo operator will guarantee the continuous availability and high accuracy of the SoL signal.
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The Commercial Service (CS) is aimed at users who require a higher degree of accuracy than is possible with the Open Service. Extremely accurate position determination will be possible thanks to two supplementary coded correction signals that are provided on a fee-paying basis.
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The Public Regulated Service (PRS) for national government applications will feature an extremely robust and interference-proof signal.
In addition to these four services, there will also be a Search and Rescue Service (SAR), which will pick up and relay the signals of users in distress.
Galileo – an investment that will pay for itself
The cost of building Galileo has been estimated at around €3.3 billion. It will cost about €220 million per year to operate the system, including replacement satellites. The economic benefits from Galileo are expected to be enormous, particularly cost savings relating to road traffic, air transportation and shipping. In 2001 around €15 billion was spent worldwide on satellite navigation products and services - approximately one third of it in Europe. According to independent studies, the market is expected to grow to about €140 billion by the year 2015. Galileo is also expected to have a significant positive impact on the labour market.
Satellite navigation positioning and timing services are a vital element in many sectors. Management and control of all modes of transport, communications networks and many other utilities are expected to benefit from the Galileo satellite navigation system.
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Personal navigation. Galileo will enable many new location-based services by integrating positioning capability with communications, typically in handheld terminals such as mobile phones. Users will not only be provided with the exact details of their position but will also be able to receive on-demand information about nearby restaurants, hotels and petrol stations. This technology will also provide benefits to emergency services (Search and Rescue) to locate callers who are unable to give their precise position.
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Transport and logistics. Galileo has been designed to satisfy all transport domains: air, road, maritime and rail. Applications include route planning, traffic and fleet management, in-car navigation, driver assistance, congestion & collision warning, and management of emergency situations in the air, on land and at sea. Galileo will thus enhance efficiency, safety and security and directly contribute towards reducing traffic congestion and travelling time.
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Finance, banking and insurance. Galileo’s global timing system based on highly accurate atomic clocks will facilitate interconnection and synchronization of telecommunications networks and electricity supply and banking systems. The combination of position and time information will also make data encryption and electronic signatures for e-commerce more secure. Insurance companies will use the technology to trace and follow high value goods.
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Agriculture and fisheries. In addition to the navigation and positioning of vessels, Galileo can help locate and monitor fish resources and enable authorities to confirm that vessels are operating within their designated areas. Galileo can also contribute to crop yield monitoring and precision farming, allowing effective resource management and helping to safeguard the agricultural environment.
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Public protection and security. A variety of applications are currently being implemented to combat vehicle theft, monitor offenders on bail and patrol maritime borders against illegal trafficking. Satellite navigation can also help track registered cargo and dangerous goods to their destinations. Tracking and tracing applications will also increase the efficient use of resources for large-scale security operations where public safety is paramount, such as the Olympic Games or political summits.
EADS ASTRIUM
EADS Astrium is Europe’s leading satellite system specialist. Its activities cover complete civil and military telecommunications and Earth observation systems, science and navigation programmes, and all spacecraft avionics and equipment. EADS Astrium, is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS SPACE.
EADS SPACE Services
EADS SPACE Services is committed to providing and developing satellite services in the area of telecommunications and navigation. EADS SPACE Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS SPACE.
EADS SPACE
EADS SPACE, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS is dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems. In 2004, EADS SPACE had a turnover of €2.6 billion and 11,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain. Its activities are based on three main subsidiaries: EADS SPACE Transportation, for launchers and orbital infrastructure, EADS Astrium for satellites and ground segment and EADS SPACE Services to develop and deliver satellite services.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2004, EADS generated revenues of € 31.8 billion and employed a workforce of more than 110,000.
Contacts for the media
| Rémi ROLAND | EADS SPACE (FR) |
Tel.: +33 (0) 1 42 24 27 34 |
| Jeremy CLOSE | EADS SPACE (UK) |
Tel.: +44 (0) 1 438 77 3872 |
| Mathias PIKELJ | EADS SPACE (GER) |
Tel.: +49 (0) 7545 8 91 23 www.space.eads.net |
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