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MEANWHILE IN OUTER SPACE
Page 36
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Satellite communicatiur is are set to take a giant leap forward with next year's partial introduction of the Galileo system, a joint project between the EU and the European Space Agency.
The existing GPS system that so much satellite tracking depends on is purely a military system to protect the United States, said Rainer Grohe, executive director of Galileo Joint Undertaking (GJU)the body that has overseen the
development of the project.
Grohe told the conference that GPS has many limitations "Only two of its frequency bands are available for civil purposes, which made it less reliable during the Gulf War. The system exists to protect the US, so our system could give them cause for security concerns. They had a monopoly for 20 years and made use of it. They decided they would jam our signal. but our frequency
bands are right beside theirs so they can't jai ours without interfering with their own signal. This really pissed them off!"
Eventually agreement was reached to share the wavebands and satellites between the US and Europe. Ultimately there will be 30 Galileo satellites with the whole system operational by the end of 2008. "The Galileo signal will be 10 times more powerful than GPSit can penetrate walls." said Grohe. He also insists Galileo will be more reliable than GPS and capable of functioning in all kinds of weather.
It will create 140.000 new jobs in Europe and more on a global scale. Its pin-point accuracy means the aviation industry will find it invaluable for approach and landing manoeuvres.
Initially the transport uses will centre on aviation and maritime "safety-of-life services", but eventually the humble trucker will be plugged in. "It can locate a truck to within 10cm " said Grohe.
Contact www.galileoju.com
For details of Transport Tracking 2007 contact 0207 375 7185 www.telematicsupdate.com