UK Revokes Key GNSS Patent That Sparked Dispute over Cooperation, Interoperability

Legal filings suggest the U.S and the United Kingdom may be well on their way to working through a heated dispute over patents that, if left unresolved, could scuttle efforts to make GPS and Galileo interoperable.

European Space Solutions: A Different Kind of Galileo Public-Private Initiative

A combined conference and trade fair, European Space Solutions — scheduled for December 3–5 in Central Hall, Westminster Storey’s Gate, London, England — will bring businesses and the public sectors together with users and developers to explore how space technologies and applications, including satellite navigation, can make a difference in the lives and livelihoods of people across Europe.

Indoor Navigation Smartphone App wins 2012 Galileo Masters Prize

Finding your way will be even easier with a new smartphone app from two Portuguese research institutes that augments GNSS with ultra-low magnetic field communication (ULF-MC) for reliable navigation in office buildings, airports, underground parking garages and other indoor locations.

China Plans New BeiDou Launch, Agrees to ITU Coordination in Galileo Signal Dispute

China’s Xinhua state news agency has reported that a 16th satellite will be added to the nation’s BeiDou-2 (Compass) GNSS system by the end of this month.

Second Pair of Galileo IOV Navigation Satellites Takes Off Successfully

[Updated October 26, 2012] A Soyuz ST-B launcher carrying two Galileo in-orbit validation (IOV) satellites took off as scheduled at 18:15 GMT (20:15 CEST; 2:15 p.m. EDT) on October 12 from the European Spaceport in French Guiana.

All the stages of the Soyuz vehicle performed as planned and the Fregat-MT upper stage released the Galileo satellites into their targeted orbit close to 23,200 kilometer altitude, three hours 45 minutes after liftoff.

Galileo Satellites Readied for Friday Launch

[Updated October 11, 2012] The next two Galileo satellites have been cleared for launch on Friday (October 12, 2012), a couple days later than originally planned.

Follow the Galileo IOV launch live online here.

GPS, Galileo Launches Near; GSA Opens Prague Office

The U.S. and European GNSS programs will launch satellites within a week of each other next month.

A GPS Block IIF satellite is scheduled to be lifted into space on October 4 and a second pair of Galileo in-orbit validation (IOV) satellites, on October 10.

Meanwhile, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) opened its new office in Prague, Czech Republic, last Thursday (September 6, 2012).