Russia seeks to end America’s GPS dominance

Sify.com
Dec. 30, 2005

Russia on Wednesday successfully launched the first satellite for the Galileo navigation system, Europe’s ambitious $ 4 billion programme which seeks to end its dependence on US-controlled global positioning system (GPS) and put the use of the technology in civilian hands.

A Russian Soyuz carrier rocket with European GIOVE A satellite lifted off from the Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan around 10.30 IST and successfully placed it in the circular orbit at the altitude of 23,000 km at 14.32 IST on Wednesday, Russian Space Agency Roskosmos said in a release.

The GIOVE A satellite has launched the construction of European Galileo global positioning and communications system, a major endeavour consisting of a constellation of 30 spacecraft.

It will end Europe’s dependency on the Pentagon- controlled GPS system, which had "betrayed" its European subscribers during US strikes on ex-Yugoslavia in the Balkan war, a EU diplomat in Moscow said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The GPS is used worldwide for military purposes like precision strikes as also civilian use such as search and rescue operations and driver assistance.

The satellite launched on Wednesday will test a series of advanced technologies for the European Galileo system.

The Galileo will be Europe’s own global navigation satellite system, providing highly accurate global positioning service under civilian control, according to Roskomos.

It will operate in conjunction with GPS and GLONASS, the two other global satellite navigation systems.