GALILEO: the countdown has begun
- 00:10:30
- European Commission
GALILEO: the countdown has begun
GALILEO, the European programme of civil radio-navigation by satellite initiated by the European Commission and the European Space Agency, will allow a multitude of applications for the general public and professionals on a worldwide scale. The two first experimental satellites will be launched by summer 2006 for a test phase. This phase will be followed by the launch of the first 4 satellites, of a constellation of thirty satellites which will circle the earth in three different orbits. GALILEO is compatible and interoperable with the American GPS, but will provide a more precise, continuous and guaranteed signal. The EGNOS system recently put into operation is the precursor of GALILEO. The economic benefits expected of GALILEO are staggering and explain the commercial attraction of the programme and the commitment of the private sector. Precision, reliability, the multiple applications of GALILEO and its global coverage explain why many third countries wish to participate in the programme.
European Commission | December 1, 2005
