Galileo, the EU and China gps program

In its early stage of development, satellite navigation and positioning system is an important support system of war, can greatly improve the ability to command and control units, greatly improve the precision of weaponry and combat effectiveness. During the Gulf War, GPS fully displayed their prowess, and further stimulate the country's satellite navigation system on the interest.

United States is the global satellite navigation technologies and applications the absolute leader. The former Soviet Union and the United States has built a similar global satellite navigation system, called GLONASS Global Navigation Satellite System, but Russia does not have financial resources to keep it fully operational, GLONASS satellite constellation to work effectively in the activities of only 11 stars in 6  , 7 star is not working properly, in March 2003 only, the less affected.

In view of the decisive role of the military and a wide range of civilian prospects, China and the EU has been active in the operation of satellite navigation and positioning system, Galileo is the outcome of that effort. March 26, 2002, the EU-15 transport ministers unanimously decided to officially launch the Galileo satellite navigation system project. This indicates that in 2008 Europe will have its own satellite navigation system, GPS and end the United States dominates the situation.

"Galileo" satellite positioning system will be composed of 30 orbiting satellites, the satellite's orbital altitude of 24,000 km with an inclination of 56 degrees, distributed in three orbital planes, each orbital plane deployment of nine stars and one at work standby track star.

From the design goals of view, "Galileo," the positioning accuracy is better than GPS. If the GPS can only find the street, "Galileo," can find the garage door. "Galileo" for the ground to provide users with three kinds of signals: free use of the signal, and the need to pay to use encrypted signals