Mr Paul Verhoef
European GNSS Programmes Manager at the European Commission

Galileo is Europe’s fully autonomous satellite navigation system which will offer five state-of-the-art navigation services to users worldwide. Once fully deployed, it will feature a constellation of 30 satellites as well as a dedicated global ground infrastructure.

EGNOS is a system that improves the navigation signals of the American GPS system for users in Europe by providing higher accuracy and adding integrity for critical safety-of-life applications especially in the aviation sector. It started delivery of its first service in October 2009.

Following a 10-year period of studies and technology validation, the EU has put in place the first large-scale industrial orders for its own, global satellite navigation system. A total of € 6.4 billion of public financing has been committed so far by a combination of the European Space Agency and the EU. The programme is well underway to being able to start the provision of early Galileo services in 2014/2015.

Galileo and EGNOS are the first major infrastructures which belong exclusively to the European Union and are managed directly by the Union. The European Union, carrying the ultimate responsibility for Galileo and EGNOS, has committed to deploy the complete Galileo constellation of 30 satellites and to ensure the long-term and stable provision of high-quality satellite navigation services worldwide.

The lecture has been organised by the Space group and is free to Attend.