US and EU Agree To link Navstar & Galileo GPS Systems

[Darren]

A major breakthrough has been reached following transatlantic talks between Senior Officials of the European Union and United States aimed at making Galileo, Europe's forthcoming GPS system, compatible with America's Navstar GPS system.

EU Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio was due to sign the agreement with US Secretary of State Colin Powell at a summit in Ireland yesterday.

Under the agreement, the US Navstar system will switch to using the same open signal that Galileo uses allowing access by GPS users to both satellite networks with a single device, both systems will retain the facility for encrypted military usage.

Galileo's first satellite is due to launch towards the end of 2005 with the constellation of 30 satellites in full operation by 2008. BAccuracy will improve by more than doubling the number of satellites available for GPS

More information on Galileo can be found at the Galileo Website.
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Darren Griffin

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