Galileo Update

GSA begins preparations for future EGNOS services

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) has published a contract notice in the Offi cial Journal of the European Union inviting operators to bid for the provision of EGNOS services over the 2014-2021period. This contract will consist in operating, maintaining and upgrading the EGNOS system infrastructure, and ensuring the continuous and safe provision of the three services offered by EGNOS.
The new EGNOS service provision contract is planned to be awarded in 2013 and is aimed at guaranteeing the provision of EGNOS services for 8 years starting on the 1st of January 2014, without service interruption. The future EGNOS operator shall become certifi ed for provision of the EGNOS services according to the Single European Sky (SES) regulation.

www.gsa.europa.eu/go/home/gsa/procurement/

Orolia atomic clocks selected for 8 New Galileo Satellites

Orolia has been selected to provide the Rubidium atomic clocks and passive hydrogen masers for eight new satellites for Galileo. “This new authorization to proceed, just a year after the signing contracts totaling nearly EUR20M for the supply of the clocks for the fi rst 14 operational satellites for the Galileo satellite navigation system, confi rms Spectratime’s position as a world leading supplier of space atomic clocks,” said Jean-Yves Courtois, CEO of the group. “Each satellite carries on board two rubidium atomic clocks and a passive hydrogen maser, the most stable type of atomic clock in the world. In a few years, after the execution of the contract, which will be implemented in partnership with Astrium and Selex Galileo, we will have the most currently active atomic clocks in space, including 72 for the Galileo system alone”.

www.orolia.com

GSA launches public consultation on the Galileo Commercial Service

The European GNSS Agency is working with the European Commission and the European Space Agency with the support of the EU Member States to defi ne the fi nal characteristics of the future Galileo Commercial Service. Input from industry as well as other actors, such as users and academia, is valuable to defi ne the service and the rationale behind the implementation of the service. Consultation participants will be asked to provide a more general perspective about the Commercial Service, as well as validate the main aspects of a preliminary business case developed in cooperation with the EC. Respondents are welcome to propose new ideas and approaches for the service provision, as well as discuss pricing, liability, service level agreements, and required performance levels. The consultation will be open until the end of September 2012. A fi nal decision on the Commercial Service implementation concept will be reached at the beginning of 2013.