Europe launched the first Galileo satellite

Giove-A is launched on a Soyuz rocket

A new era in the satellite navigation system was started when the first test satellite Giove-A of Galileo satellite system was launched into orbit on the morning of December 28.

The 600 kg Giove-A satellite was launched into orbit on a Soyuz missile from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan at 11:19 local time (5:19 am international time).

Giove-A will demonstrate important technologies needed for Galileo, Europe's global positioning satellite system worth 3.4 billion ($ 4 billion) that Europe hopes to deploy in 2010.

Once fully deployed, Galileo will be a revolution in positioning methods: using accurate time and space signals from the universe.

' We are aiming to provide accurate positioning with a distance of 1 meter at any point on the earth via the' open 'Galileo service system, not just now - locating by locality or zone , 'said Javier Benedicto, project director Galileo.

' With the use of three signals, we will help pinpoint every centimeter, far better than current services, and the European industry is continuing to research to develop these applications, ' Javier said. added.

In a few years, a small Galileo chip will be attached to a mobile phone, allowing users to locate restaurants, hotels, theaters, hospitals or car parks.

Operation model of positioning satellite system

A small Galileo chip will be attached to a mobile phone, allowing users to locate restaurants, hotels, theaters, hospitals or car parks.

This system will also provide effective tools for governments to monitor roads; reinforce Europe's air traffic control system, helping aircraft to keep a safe distance and allowing pilots to fly on the right track and height.

Launched by Europe in 1999, the Galileo project aims to reduce the European Union's dependence on US global positioning system (GPS) and Russia's Glonass for strategic and economic reasons. sacrifice. The applications in this project are very diverse such as placing computers in special cars, tracking those who commit electronic ring, oil exploration or road planning .

According to experts, Galileo's instrumentation is improved, which will be 10 times more accurate than existing equipment. In the future, Galileo can also be used in conjunction with 29 satellites in GPS. Scientists also hope to apply Galileo in the areas of research on stratigraphic and meteorological research.

Looking ahead, some countries such as China, Ukraine and Brazil will finance this system.

WALL VY