positioning service to users across the globe
© ESA - J.Huart (click to enlarge)
Galileo will comprise 30 satellites and will be Europe's own global navigation satellite system, providing a highly accurate, guaranteed global positioning service under civilian control. The joint initiative between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission (EC) will be inter-operable with GPS and GLONASS, the two other global satellite navigation systems. Galileo will be particularly suitable for applications where safety is crucial, such as running trains, guiding cars and landing aircraft.
fully operational satellites plus three active
spares © ESA - J.Huart (click to enlarge)
In January 2006 SciSys won 6 major Galileo contracts worth over 4 million Euros. The contracts support the complex ground system that will be needed to coordinate Galileo and exploit company expertise in satellite monitoring, control and operations. The contracts will support the In Orbit Validation (IOV) phase of the programme which will see the launch of the first four satellites and the installation of the ground infrastructure.
SciSys has been awarded three contracts by EADS Astrium Ltd, the Prime Contractor for the Ground Control Segment. Drawing on over 80 man-years experience of developing state-of-the-art spacecraft simulators for ESA, the Constellation Simulator will be an invaluable risk reduction tool critical to the validation of operational control and procedures and the training of the flight operations team. Meanwhile the Spacecraft Constellation Planning Facility and Operations Preparation Facility will be crucial for tasking and operating a large and complex satellite constellation.
Additionally, SciSys will support VCS GmbH in the development of two facilities that remotely monitor and control all the equipment in the Galileo ground segment. Under subcontract to GMV SA, SciSys will lead the development testing of key algorithms used to assess and monitor the integrity of the Galileo signals.
Meanwhile SciSys has developed the Mission Control System and Spacecraft Simulator for the EADS Astrium-led GIOVE-B satellite (formerly GSTB V2/B). Due for launch later in 2006, GIOVE-B will be the second in-orbit element of the Galileo programme.
