GPS World

Category: Galileo

  • New Galileo sensor station operating in South Pacific

    New Galileo sensor station operating in South Pacific

    Photo:
    Image: Screenshot of GSS Map from EUSPA

    The newest addition to the network of Galileo sensor stations (GSS) is up and running in Wallis and Futuna, a French territory in the South Pacific consisting of three main islands and many tiny islets. It enables increased Galileo coverage in the southern hemisphere.

    The European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) reported that the decision for the new station was made in June 2020; however, due to COVID-19, its deployment did not begin until summer 2022. In October 2022, the second mission to Wallis and Futana took place to complete the deployment and connect the station to the ground mission segment network for data collection.

    The GSS is a network of antennas deployed at remote locations around the world. They have small, omnidirectional receiving antennas 50 cm high that check the accuracy and signal quality of individual satellites and pinpoint current satellite orbits. Establishing GSS is difficult and requires security accreditation by EUSPA’s Security Accreditation Board.

    To make the best use of the Galileo services, users rely on more than just the satellites. Dedicated facilities such as the Galileo control centers, sensors, and uplink stations are important components that make up the Galileo ground segment — which supports the service provision of Europe’s GNSS. The GSS is an important element of Galileo’s ground segment.

  • Singular XYZ launches GNSS receiver with network RTK rover

    Singular XYZ launches GNSS receiver with network RTK rover

    Singular XYZ has released the Sfaira One GNSS receiver. The portable size, centimeter-accurate receiver provides users with an entry-level network real time kinematic (RTK) rover.

    Sfaira One is equipped with a GNSS module with 1,408 channels for GPS, BDS, GLONASS, Galileo and QZSS tracking — providing centimeter positioning in harsh environments. It also features advanced RTK and an anti-interference algorithm.

    The GNSS receiver connects via Bluetooth and can be configured to conduct surveying tasks on a smartphone. Additionally, Sfaira One supports SingularPad and SingularSurv software and is also compatible with mainstream field survey or GIS software.

    Sfaira One is IP65 dustproof and waterproof, which makes the receiver suitable for all weather conditions. It has a 4,800 mAh battery life with 16 hours working time and type-C interface that can be charged on-the-go with power bank.

    The Sfaira One GNSS receivers are online at SingularXYZ’s website and are available now.

  • EU court dismisses Galileo satellite contract complaint

    EU court dismisses Galileo satellite contract complaint

    Credit: ESA
    Credit: ESA

    On April 26, the European Union Court of Justice dismissed a complaint from OHB System regarding a contract awarded to Thales and Airbus to supply satellites for the Galileo program, reported Reuters. OHB System supplied most of Galileo’s operating satellites.

    In 2021, the European Commission rejected OHB System’s bid to supply the next-generation Galileo satellites and selected Airbus Defense and Space and Thales Alenia Space Italia. This follows a 2018 tender by the European Space Agency for next-generation Galileo satellites.

    OHB System requested the European Commission and the ESA suspend the tender after its former chief operating officer was hired by Airbus and to exclude Airbus from the tender. This was rejected in January 2021.

  • Editorial Advisory Board Q&A: NATO Galileo and GPS integration

    Editorial Advisory Board Q&A: NATO Galileo and GPS integration

    How do/will/should North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces integrate GPS and Galileo for position, navigation and time?

    Ellen Hall
    Ellen Hall

     

    “For improved resiliency, it would be a great move for NATO to integrate Galileo with GPS into their system. The ‘how’ will be difficult. Some of the challenges are that the EU consists of more than a single nation with which to negotiate complex security issues, such as whether NATO will be treated as a ‘third nation entity’ for the use of PRS. The initial Galileo development was difficult for all these reasons and the Europeans managed to sort it all out, so I’m confident that, if the desire is to do this, it can be done successfully.”

    — Ellen Hall
    Imminent Federal

     

    Photo: Orolia
    John Fischer

     

    “In the interest of operational robustness and the criticality of the use case, NATO should integrate GPS and Galileo capability at the earliest. Both GPS’ M-code and Galileo’s PRS are encrypted, providing anti-spoof capability and extra frequency diversity, making jamming of our forces more difficult. Crypto key management for both systems may be an extra burden, but a single receiver capable of operating with either system individually or both simultaneously would be key for interoperability — always a driving factor for NATO. The capability is available, and NATO should take advantage of it.”

    — John Fischer
    Orolia

  • ESA opens applications for Navigation Training Course

    ESA opens applications for Navigation Training Course

    Photo:
    Image: European Space Agency (ESA)

    The European Space Agency (ESA) Academy is requesting university students to apply for the pilot edition of the Navigation Training Course. The course will take place June 26-30 at ESA Academy’s Training and Learning Facility in ESEC-Galaxia, Belgium.

    With a specific focus on Galileo, the ESA Academy course aims to provide university students with an introduction to satellite navigation. Designed by ESA experts that developed the Galileo space and ground segment, this training course will offer students fundamental knowledge of Galileo’s architecture, tools, services and functionalities.

    The training course will include lectures and hands-on exercises with a tour of Galileo in-orbit test facilities in ESEC, which provides an essential part of the current Galileo ground segment.

    Upon completion of the training course, students will be evaluated and will receive a certificate of participation and course transcript, allowing them to request ECTS credits from their respective universities.

    For more information and application requirements, visit the ESA website.

  • Orolia Skydel will support Galileo OSNMA

    Orolia Skydel will support Galileo OSNMA

     

    Image: Orolia
    Image: Orolia

    Orolia, a Safran Electronics and Defense company, announced its Skydel GNSS simulation engine will support Galileo Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA) simulation in the form of two-phased and separate solutions. These solutions will be available to users who have purchased simulation access to the Galileo constellation, which will be available in the next few months.

    OSNMA is an emerging authentication service that allows GNSS receivers to verify the authenticity of received data to protect against potential jamming or spoofing attacks that can result in service disruptions, denial incidents and more.

    The first solution is well-suited for most receiver integrators that want to test the OSNMA capability of a GNSS receiver with the official test vectors from the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA). This solution will support the available official test vectors sample data, which supports the verification of OSNMA functionality implementation.

    The second option will provide full flexibility in the configuration of the scenario as well as the OSNMA authentication parameters. It will be suitable for advanced users that test receivers in a wide range of edge and corner cases.

    Available later in 2023, this phase will include the following elements in Skydel: authentication of the Galileo E1 OS navigation message, a new Skydel engine supporting OSNMA SIS ICD 1.0, support for the timed efficient stream loss-tolerant authentication protocol, and useful crypto material for running user-programmable simulation test scenarios.

    This feature will be ready for future software updates in accordance with the next phases recommended by EUPSA.

  • ComNav modules now compatible with Galileo HAS

    ComNav modules now compatible with Galileo HAS

    Image: ComNav Technology video
    Image: ComNav Technology video

    ComNav Technology’s K8 series GNSS modules can use the Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS) precise-point positioning (PPP). The PVT algorithm upgrade to the K8 series module supports Galileo HAS with an accuracy of 20 cm horizontally and 40 cm vertically.

    Galileo HAS provides free access to information necessary to estimate accurate positioning using a PPP algorithm in real-time through the Galileo signal E6-B and an internet connection. Galileo HAS Initial Service was declared on January 24, enabling users within the service area to achieve improved positioning performance.

    The improved performance capabilities provide a higher level of accuracy for industries such as UAV, autonomous driving, intelligent transportation, agriculture and GIS collection.

  • GNSS Almanac: Key stats on GNSS constellations

    GNSS Almanac: Key stats on GNSS constellations

    Image: vasilypetkov/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
    Image: vasilypetkov/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

    In our October 2021 issue, we celebrated the availability of four global navigation satellite system (GNSS) constellations. Below is the status (as of Feb. 23, 2023) of these four GNSS and their two regional cousins.

    Many thanks to Mohamed Tamazin, Ph.D., Senior GNSS Architect for GNSS Simulation with Orolia — a Safran Electronics & Defense company, who provided or confirmed these data. While the data on GPS and Galileo are easily accessible, those for the other constellations are difficult, in some cases very difficult, to find.

    — Matteo Luccio, Editor-in-Chief

    GNSS Almanac chart 2023

  • GMV to develop Galileo second-gen test bed

    GMV to develop Galileo second-gen test bed

    Image: GMV
    Image: GMV

    GMV has been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) to develop the Galileo second-generation system test bed (G2STB). The G2STB will provide ESA with a key system verification and validation facility in support of its role as Galileo system development prime, enabling a wide range of Galileo system monitoring, troubleshooting, prototyping and experimentation activities.

    GMV will deliver four G2STB versions over five years. Among these modules, the G2 high accuracy service (HAS) data generator and monitor aims to improve the Galileo HAS that was declared operational in January.

    Other early capabilities of the G2STB include an upgraded orbit determination and time synchronization facility — capable of processing inter-satellite link data, a time service monitoring module, an integrity support message generator, a signal authentication service, an authentication validation module, an emergency warning service module, an ISL simulator and a G2G message composer.

    The G2STB project aims for a smooth transition from the Galileo first-generation to the second-generation, building onto the G1G legacy system tools. The G2STB is one of the key infrastructure elements that ESA is developing for the correct functioning of the Galileo second-generation satellites.

    The G2STB will eventually replace and upgrade the capabilities of the two first-generation facilities, the Galileo system evaluation equipment and the time and geodetic validation facility (TGVF-X). The latter, developed and operated by GMV over the last decade, has played a key role in monitoring the Galileo signals and system validation activities during the Galileo exploitation phase. The TGVF-X is also contributing to the early validation of new capabilities and elements being rolled out in recent and upcoming Galileo System updates.

    In parallel to the development phase, the G2STB will help upgrade the network of Galileo experimental sensor stations to process new signals and capabilities to ensure the availability of a G2-capable, worldwide, multi-constellation network of receivers and bit-grabbers — independent from the operational Galileo sensor stations.

  • Thanks Galileo: How the constellation can boost positioning accuracy for space missions

    Thanks Galileo: How the constellation can boost positioning accuracy for space missions

    Image: ESA
    Image: ESA

    The Navigation Support Office at the Mission Control Centre of the European Space Operations Center (ESOC) has been tasked with providing independent precise orbit determination for European space missions. ESOC, which is based in Darmstadt, Germany, is a part of the of the European Space Agency (ESA). ESA aims to use high-quality signals from Galileo alongside GPS to sharpen the orbital positioning levels for future space missions.

    The Navigation Support Office has used the positive results of the Copernicus Sentinel-6 mission — one of the first missions to fly a joint Galileo-GPS capable receiver, which improved positioning capabilities — to prove to ESA mission teams that future missions can harness the power of Galileo to improve positioning accuracy.

    Missions in the works 

    Proba-3 is a precision formation flying mission that aims to launch in 2024. The mission consists of two small satellites launched together that will separate to fly in tandem to prepare for future multi-satellite missions flying as one virtual structure. This mission will require millimeter-scale positioning precision and use a variety of positioning methods, including optical, radio and laser links and GNSS such as Galileo.

    The ESA-supported Lunar Pathfinder will be launched into lunar orbit in 2024 with the intent of using it as a communication satellite for future moon missions. The spacecraft will incorporate a specially designed GPS- and Galileo-capable receiver that aims to demonstrate the feasibility of positioning fixes from 400,000 km away.

    The future of Galileo

    Galileo serves Europe and the world with accurate and reliable navigation services as well as a catalyst for future space missions — making it a critical aspect of both everyday life and the enhancement of accurate navigation. The constellation will continue to grow with 10 more Galileo first-generation satellites planned for launch in the next few years. Second-generation Galileo satellites with enhanced capabilities are being built for testing and qualification at ESA’s European Space Technology and Research Centre as well.

  • ACSER upgrades GPS receiver

    ACSER upgrades GPS receiver

    Image: ACSER
    Image: ACSER

    The University of New South Wales has developed an advanced GNSS receiver that can receive signals from GPS and Galileo satellites across multiple frequencies. The Australian Space Agency provided funding for the project via the International Space Investment initiative.

    The receiver may play a key part in the future for Australian space missions.

    Professor Andrew Dempster, director of the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research (ACSER), led the development of the receiver and notes that it is an upgrade of Kea, a receiver made in Australia and New Zealand.

    “The idea was to take that work (on Kea) and upgrade it for this multi-frequency, multi-system solution,” Professor Dempster said. “We needed to scale up the performance of many of the components on the boards – in particular, where the digital processors and hardware live.”

    ACSER aims to have the receiver support upcoming satellite missions. The receiver can provide precise positioning, timing and velocity information. It enables satellites to produce higher quality images from space with better pointing.

  • Linx Technologies releases remote antenna base series

    Linx Technologies releases remote antenna base series

    Linx Technologies has released the MAG Series SMA and RP-SMA magnetic antenna bases, which are suitable for GPS, Galileo and QZSS applications. The antennas are designed to combine a strong magnetic mount with typical connectors to create different mounting options for a variety of whip/blade-style connectorized antennas.

    “This versatile mounting option provides the capability to extend the placement of the antenna to a remote location and allows the flexibility for the antenna to be used in a mobile application, making it especially well-suited for the growing internet of things (IoT) market,” said Tolga Latif, senior director of product management for IoT and micro-markets.

    The MAG Series antenna bases are IP67 rated (connectors, base and coax) and are also suitable for LTE-M (Cat-M1), NB-IoT, 5G/4G LTE/3G/2G, LoRaWAN, Sigfox, Wi-Fi, HaLow (802.11 ah), Bluetooth and Zigbee, as well as GNSS applications.

    The MAG Series antenna bases are available now via Linx Technologies’ distributor and manufacturer representative networks.

    Image: Linx Technologies
    Image: Linx Technologies