Galileo update

EC and GSA sign agreement on Galileo Service Provision

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) and the European Commission (EC) have concluded an agreement that delegates a range of exploitation tasks for Galileo to the GSA, providing a framework and budget for the development of services and operations through 2021.

According to the governance structure set out for the Galileo program, the EC is responsible for the overall program supervision, the European Space Agency (ESA) is entrusted with the deployment phase, while the GSA is responsible for the exploitation phase.

The maximum current EU contribution amounts to US$621.8 million, which will cover the GSA’s procurement and grant activities, including the GSAESA working arrangements, a program management reserve, and related research and development activities.

Future Galileo launches suspended until 2015

The ESA and the European Commission have decided to postpone the planned December launch of two more Galileo satellites. This decision has been made despite the findings of an enquiry that the August failure was caused by an easily correctable design fl aw due to continuing concerns about the Soyuz launch vehicle. The two satellites needed up in a bad orbit as a result of a frozen fuel pipe responsible for the delivery of hydrazine to thrusters necessary to align the Fregat upper stage ready for correct orbital injection. Both satellites also suffered issues with solar panel deployment. Whilst these issues may have been caused by the incorrect orbit, investigations are continuing to confirm the cause.

Meanwhile work continues to protect the two satellites that are now in an incorrect orbit. A series of manoeuvres is planned for Oct/Nov to to raise the perigee of their orbit and remove them from the Van Allen radiation belt. Unfortunately there is insufficient full on board for the satellites to be moved into the correct orbits. arianespace.com

2014 GSA Prize awarded to the design of a new Galileo Module for Project Ara

The 2014 edition of the European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) European GNSS Agency (GSA) Special Prize was awarded to Deimos Space for their Galileo for Ara – Design of a new Galileo Module for Ara.

Project Ara is led by Google with the aim of developing a smartphone comprised of individual modules. Galileo for Ara is the solution for demanding smartphone users looking to use one of Galileo’s most important features: the unique E5 broadband signal. The idea is to design an E5 Galileo receiver module for the Ara platform. While mass market smartphones will use the E1 signal, the availability of high end phones offering enhanced accuracy through the use of the E5 signal will be appealing to many users. The project was selected from over 152 submissions. www.gsa.europa.eu