Slashgeo

Very Spatial links to an interesting Defense Tech article regarding China's potential answer to USA's GPS, Europe Galileo and Russia's Glonass navigation satellites named Compass. From the article: "China invested in the European Galileo system through the Galileo Joint Undertaking. [...] It’s no surprise, then, that China would feel betrayed by its partnership in the Joint Undertaking. Compass may be a result of China’s desire to strike out on its own– or a bluff aimed at wrangling a more substantive role in Galileo. [...] Another consideration: there is a possibility that Compass could jam GPS and Galileo. Even as a regional system, Compass could have significant military implications"

Slashdot discuss a Reuters article on the U.S. and Europe trying to reach an agreement to allow using GPS and Galileo signals together. Their summary: "The US and EU are in talks to allow their separate GPS systems to work together. The future uses would allow enhanced location information based on two readings, among other benefits. 'The market probably will drive dual-use receivers. We think probably that single (U.S.) GPS-specific, or Galileo-specific receivers — the market will phase out in time [...] It just doesn't make sense to limit yourself to just one system'." Also from the article: "Under the agreement, which the United States says it expects to be signed this week, both EU and U.S. satellites would send information on the same radio frequency, enabling receivers to get signals from both systems and combine the data." If you read the informative comment on Very Spatial, you'll learn that such GPS-Galileo cooperation was planned from the beginning. See below numerous related stories, including the serious financial troubles of Galileo. Vector One also remarks the new USAF approved 8 GPSIIIa satellites to be launched by 2013.

Slashdot runs a story about Europe's Galileo program in serious trouble. Vector One also provides interesting analysis of Galileo's status. The Slashdot summary: "Various news outlets are reporting that Europe's Galileo program is facing a serious financial and technical crisis and may be permanently stalled. The European program, designed to be a superior answer to the US's GPS — and, more critically, not controlled by the US — has faced numerous hurdles since its inception. To date the Galileo program has succeeded in launching only one of its 30 planned satellites and has been beset by delays and cost overruns. Apparently, squabbling between the eight companies in the consortium behind the project is responsible for many of the problems. The project is now threatened with an EU takeover. But some doubt that even an infusion of EU capital can save the flagging program." See previous stories below about the problems.

GeoCarta links to an article about the European Galileo project halted by serious problems. From the article: "Plans to launch a European satellite navigation system to rival the US global positioning system have ground to a halt following a break down in relations between governments and private contractors. Jacques Barrot, the transport commissioner, said on Wednesday he was writing to the eight companies building the Galileo system to discover the reason for more than a year's delay. "They are just not working," said his spokesman. [...] There were originally to be 30 satellites in place by 2010 but Mr Barrot's spokesman said the system would not be operational until 2011, and the timetable was slipping by the day. China recently said its Beidou system would cover China and its neighbours by 2008, and then the rest of the world." See also the numerous related stories below.

GeoCarta discuss and links to articles related to Vladimir Putin hoping GLONASS will have a bright future. From this article: " “In order users chose GLONASS, the system should operate flawlessly, better than GPS (the global positioning system). Cheaper and with a better quality,” he said at a meeting with government members on Monday. “I hope that the government will pay much attention to the creation of the GLONASS system,” the president said. He added that he watched the progress of the project. “We have the right to count on known, healthy economic patriotism of our users, first of all of the state, but I proceed from the assumption that we shall work on market terms in this sector of the economy, and users will be able to chose a quality service,” Putin stressed." See numerous related stories below, including the collaboration between India and Russia.

All Points Blog tells us China has successfully launched their first Compass GNSS satellite which will compete with other GPS systems. From the short article: "The Chinese Compass Navigation Satellite System will provide positioning signals across China by 2008, and will eventually be extended worldwide. Experts said that the system is operating well and has played a significant role in cartography, telecoms, water conservation, transportation, fishery, prospecting, forest fire monitoring and national security." There's the orbit technical details in the JSR space report. See also related stories.

konquest writes "One year ago today, GIOVE-A began transmitting Galileo navigation signals. This satellite is the first flight element in ESA’s in-orbit validation programme for Galileo. Information on the GIOVE mission is now accessible at www.giove.esa.int. This new web site provides general information to the public and measurement data and core products to registered external users who are collaborating with ESA on the mission experiments."

Slashdot discuss the Chinese Beidou geostationary GPS system to be offered free. Their summary: "The Chinese GPS system, Beidou, is apparently to be opened up for free access within China, worrying European investors on the 2.5 billion competing project, Galileo. Initially, China had declared that access to their system would be restricted to the military, and Europe had planned to recoup some of the cost of their system selling licenses to China. Michael Shaw, from the US government's National Space-based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Coordination Office in Washington DC said "Frankly, China's behavior towards Europe is not so different to how Europe behaved with us when GPS was the only game in town a decade ago."

All Points Blog links to a The Hindu article informing us India and Russia will jointly develop the GLONASS-K GPS satellites. From the short article: ""Under the space co-operation agreements signed during President Vladimir Putin's India visit, both countries will jointly develop new generation GLONASS-K satellite for the GLONASS global positioning system, which will function parallelly with the American GPS," Indian Ambassador Kanwal Sibal said. Addressing an internet press conference last evening, he said Russia intends to operationalise GLONASS by 2010 by completing the cluster of 24 satellites."