European satellite navigation system Galileo's first experimental satellite was launched today at 05h19 (Lisbon time) from Baikonur, Kazakhstan.
Named ''Giove A'', its mission is to field test the technologies to be used by the future European satellite navigation system and to assure the radio frequencies allocated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which would be lost if Europe did not launch the satellite in 2006. Another of its missions will be to evaluate the radioelectric environment at about 23 thousand kilometres of altitude, where the constellation of Galileo’s satellites will orbit the Earth.
This European navigation system is a joint initiative of the European Commission and the European Space Agency (ESA), both responsible for the definition, development, validation and, finally, the launch of the project. It will be the first navigation system under civilian management, since the north-American ''GPS'' and the Russian ''Glonass'' will continue under military management.
With this project, Europe hopes to gain autonomy in a strategic area, that of satellite positioning, currently indispensable for air and maritime traffic management. Galileo will thus operate both as a complement and a competitor with the north-American and Russian systems.
The European system will be made up of 27 operational and three reserve satellites that will predictably begin commercial operations in 2010. Its applications will be numerous and might range from the management of all kinds of traffic to search and rescue and to scientific research in several fields.
Further information:
- UE- Direcção Geral Energia e Transportes-Galileo http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/energy_transport/galileo/index_en.htm
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- Developments on Galileo https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=280597
- Galileo https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=109882
