Q&A: Europe's Galileo project
By Jonathan Amos
BBC News science reporter
Europe is building its own satellite-navigation system called Galileo. BBC News looks at why such a network is deemed necessary when we already have the US Global Positioning System (GPS).
What is Galileo?
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Like Airbus and the Ariane rocket programme, the new sat-nav system will assert Europe's independence. It will give EU countries guaranteed access to a service that is currently provided by a foreign (US) power.
GPS is a military-run programme; its signals can be degraded or switched off. Yes, the service is free, but its continuity and quality come with no guarantees - which means it cannot be relied upon, certainly not for safety-of-life applications such as landing planes and controlling trains.
Galileo will be a civil system. It will be run by a private consortium and will offer guaranteed levels of service.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4555276.stm-------------------------------------------
Can't blame the rest of the world for deciding they can't count on the US. They know the GPS system can be cut off for any or even no reason. The EU is asserting it doesn't need the US. Good for them. If we were real friends to the EU, the EU wouldn't feel the need to do this.