GALILEO UPDATE

Rockwell tracks Galileo signal with secure software receiver

Rockwell Collins has successfully received and tracked a Galileo satellite signal using a prototype GNSS receiver designed for secure military use.

In 2013, Rockwell Collins received a $2 million contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the GPS Directorate to develop and demonstrate a Secure Software Defined Radio (S-SDR) GNSS receiver capability. By using multiple available satellite signals, improved and more robust signal availability can be obtained.

Hosted in a software-defined radio, the S-SDR program will develop the security architecture required for receiver equipment approvals and certifications. The arrival of modernized GPS signals and other global constellations is changing the way the U.S. military and its allies accomplish secure GNSS-based positioning, navigation and timing. The European Galileo constellation coming on line during 2015, including its open signals and secure Public Regulated Service, is expected to provide an opportunity for improved robustness in satellite based navigation, in both commercial and government applications.

ESA releases diagrams showing Galileo 5 and 6 Orbit

The fifth and sixth Galileo satellites have been in a safe state since August 28, under control from ESA’s center in Darmstadt, Germany, despite having been released on August 22 into lower and elliptical orbits instead of the expected circular orbits. ESA said that the potential of exploiting the satellites to maximum advantage, despite their unplanned injection orbits and within the limited propulsion capabilities, is being investigated. Various ESA specialists, supported by industry and France’s CNES space agency, are analyzing different scenarios that would yield maximum value for the program, and safeguard — as much as possible — the original mission objectives. More detailed analysis, alongside consultations with industry, is under way.

EU Agencies start work on cohesive GNSS plan for Europe

The European Global Navigation Satellite System Agency (GSA)– which operates and maintains Egnos, Europe’s Waas equivalent–and Eurocontrol signed a new cooperation agreement under which they will jointly implement European satellite navigation policies in the aviation sector. The move will set the stage for the EU to evolve its air traffic management infrastructure from one based primarily on ground-based systems to a more satellite-based system, improving accessibility, efficiency and safety for European operators, pilots and airports.

To accomplish this objective, the agreement focuses on defining aviation user requirements for Egnos and the European Galileo GPS satellite network; introducing European GNSS services for aviation within the European Civil Aviation Conference area; coordinating aviation research and development; monitoring aviationspeci ficGNSS performance; and promoting European GNSS aviation activities at the international level. www.ainonline.com