Europe names Galileo trailblazer
Jonathan Amos writes for The BBC:
The in-orbit testing phase of Galileo, Europe's satellite-navigation system, will begin in December.
The first demonstrator spacecraft will fly from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on a Soyuz rocket on the 28th of the month.
The satellite, known as Giove-A, has the critical task of claiming the frequencies allocated to Galileo under international agreements.
To do this, the UK-built spacecraft must generate and transmit a timing and navigation signal by June 2006.
Galileo is Europe's biggest and most expensive space project. It will be independent of the American Global Positioning System (GPS) but interoperable with it.
Analysts expect the new constellation to drive a multi-billion euro industry, creating perhaps 140,000 jobs.
posted by Fergie @ 11/09/2005 12:46:00 PM
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