Navitec 2010: The Fifth Anniversary

The European Space Agency (ESA) will hold its fifth Workshop on Satellite Navigation Technology, NAVITEC 2010, from December 8 through 10 at the European Space Research and Technology Center (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, Netherlands.

Is GPS Vulnerability Leading the U.S. Towards a More Cooperative Space Posture?

As the United States enters a season of crucial Department of Defense (DoD) policy reviews, GPS may be riding the wave or caught in the ebb tide, depending on how one reads the signs. But a softer line toward cooperative efforts on GNSS may be emerging, if only because of concerns about U.S. dependence on a potentially vulnerable system.

The Quadrennial Defense Review, the Space Posture Review, and program objective memorandums (POMs) that will span fiscal 2012-2016 all are in process. Meanwhile, DoD is pushing for reform of export controls, which have frequently constrained the ability of dual-use technologies such as GPS equipment and expertise to be exported profitably and in a timely manner.

ESA Sponsors GNSS Summer School this September in Denmark

Online registration is open for the fourth International Summer School on Global Navigation Satellite systems. The 10-day course will take place at the GPS Center at Aalborg University in Slettestrand, Denmark from Wednesday afternoon, September 1 through Saturday morning, September 11.

Held for the first two years at University FAF Munich, it now takes place in Denmark with two new lead sponsors, the European Space Agency and Nokia.

ESA GNSS Evolutions Program Invites Proposals for Scientific Research

The European Space Agency (ESA) has invited proposals from the scientific community, private companies, and research organizations about ways to use signals from Galileo and the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) in studies that provide guidance for design of Europe’s next-generation GNSS systems.

GSA Seeks New Leadership

The European Commission (EC) is recruiting for an executive director of the Galileo Supervisory Agency (GSA), the new designation of the European GNSS Supervisory Authority. Deadline for applications is May 21.

The GSA’s current mission is to assist in the further implementation of the European GNSS Programs, composed of Galileo and the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System (EGNOS). Details for applying for the position can be found online at <www.gsa.europa.eu/go/gsa/careers>.

EC Liberates Galileo ICD Signal Specification

Today’s (April 13) release of an updated “Galileo Open Service Signal-In-Space Interface Control Document” (OS SIS ICD) freed the key specification document in two senses of the word: receiver manufacturers, application developers and service providers may now use the ICD as an official — not draft — guide to their work, and they may do so at no cost

The t’s have been crossed and the i’s dotted to the satisfaction of lawyers and politicians — and the relief of designers and system integrators eager to begin work on Galileo-capable products without fear of having substantive changes in the specifications and legal or financial difficulties for moving ahead.

Septentrio and FreeFlight Systems Partner on New GPS/SBAS Avionics Receivers

Septentrio and FreeFlight Systems will develop new GPS/SBAS (Satellite Based Augmentation System) receivers for air traffic control as part of a new strategic partnership announced on April 13.

GNSS Opportunities Help Drive UK to Set Up National Space Agency

(This article first appeared in the March 31 Inside GNSS SIGNALS eNewsletter)

Driven in part by a prestigious Space Innovation and Growth Strategy (Space IGS) report suggesting that the nation has lost both the best industrial work and the ability to influence programs such as Galileo, the United Kingdom will establish a new national space agency on April 1.