Galileo Satellite System Has Sent Its First Navigation Message

Galileo has found its way—sort of.

The wildly expansive, anticipatedly expansive satellite system built by the European Space Agency has sent its first navigation message. Before we get too excited, let's review: Galileo is at present one satellite, Giove-A. It is circling the globe at the moment and has been doing that for more than a year. It is the vanguard of a system that is envisioned to be compatible with both Russia's GLONASS and America's GPS systems. Galileo is also envisioned as Europe's own navigation system, so Europeans don't have to depend on those fussy new American or cranky old Russian systems.


Giove-A has been transmitting generic messages for awhile now, but this latest signal was the first of the navigation variety. It was an important first step on the road to success, expected to be full deployment by 2012. The next series of deployments will take place next year.




Written by Annie Groer
Published in Financial , Handhelds