GALILEO UPDATE

Next Galileo satellite launch planned from Guiana on 17th December 2015

Next two satellites from Galileo program are going to be launched with Arianespace rocket from Guiana Space Centre launch site LCS.

After launching first satellite in 2011 Galileo is planned to provide services in 2016, furthemore in 2020 it is scheduled to complete all from 30 (24 operational and 6 spare) satellites. Notes fast pace to achieve full efficiency of the system – compared to Glonass which became fully functional (with 24 satellites). Of course Glonass and Galileo can not match with GPS which was finished in 5 years after launching first satellite in 1989, but still opposed to Glonass and GPS Galileo is cilivilian solution with civilian budget. First fourteen FOC satellites providing signal for Galileo navigation are made by OHB System and Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), next eight are contracted to OHB System. On 17th December 2015 it is planned to launch 11th and 12th satellites. Importance of the program progress and previous successes sometimes perceived as unnecessary best summarize words spoken by Elżbieta Bieńkowska (European Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs) in March 2015. www.satprnews.com

GSA extends deadline for proposal for specialized GNSS chipsets

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) has extended its timeline, until November 20, for submission of proposals to develop two specialized European GNSS (E-GNSS) “engines” for ITS applications.

Partly funded under its €100 million “Fundamental Elements” program, the projects would build Galileo and European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) capability into specialized chipsets: an E-GNSS engine for safety-critical applications in road transportation and another for liability- and payment -critical applications in road transportation. Target participants are vehicle manufacturers, automotive suppliers, and GNSS receiver and chipset manufacturers.

The first grant would underwrite up to 60 percent (€4.5 million) of a single project to develop an engine for safety-critical ITS applications, while also analyzing the potential for E-GNSS “differentiators” (such as signal authentication, precise point positioning using a Commercial Service), developing the interface with a vehicle’s standard data exchange system (such as a CAN bus), and cooperating with GNSS/ ITS standardization efforts.

The second grant would provide €6 million for two similar projects to help develop a “liability- and payment-critical E-GNSS-based engine in the road sector.” All three projects would run for up to three years and focus on creating chipsets that would be embedded in dedicated on-board units, on vehicles or consumer devices on private and commercial road vehicles