European Satellite System - Essay Example

The European satellite radio navigation system puts forth a major public infrastructure that provides enormous advantages for the European Union. This will make it probable for the system to avoid the involvement, dependence, and the domination of a third party system where crucial application areas are increasing rapidly every day. This program will possess control over technology. This system is designed for the civilian users and will suit the requirements of the users that the present system cannot provide.

It also is present in the European space policy described in the White Paper presented by the European Commission on 11 November 2003. But all these factors justify that a grip of the public authorities in funding the program's deployment and operation is very essential. (Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council) Space science plays a vital and significant role in Europe's space program. Since the early 1960s, the European's have placed a keen eye on success in space.

Though the ESA has passed thirty successful years, it is still the continuous innovative thinking and long-term perspective tradition that the ESA follows and that which forms the basis for ESA's scientific program. A long-term plan was formulated twenty years ago since 1984, the Horizon 2000 for space science. The later plan of Horizon 2000+ which is its successor which was also approved for process ten years ago is now open for execution with several scientific satellites and space telescopes in orbit which would produce great results.

Thus the ESA is building a future in space science based on 'Cosmic Vision' which would help the space science to look ahead which begun in the past and is still developing to overcome the challenges of tomorrow based on science and technology (ESA's Cosmic Vision') The Galileo system is a global satellite navigation system, which is being developed through the joint initiative of the European Space Authorities as well as the European Union. Once the system is in routine operation, Galileo will provide a navigational accuracy that was not provided during the systems used before.

It is also expected that the Galileo program will promote several new commercial applications. (Galileo: ESA Operations Centre Contributes Valuable Expertise) The GLONASS is an alternate type of system used by the Russian Federation Government. This system is used mainly in air and naval traffic management. It functions also include "the ground transport monitoring, the time scale synchronization of the remote from each object to the other and the ecological monitoring of each rescue operation" (What Purposes Glonas Serves for) On moving back to the GPS, it was formulated and designed as a dual-purpose system with the significant purpose of increased effectiveness of the U.S. and allied military forces.

GPS has and is rapidly becoming an important part of the emerging Global Information Infrastructure. This system is provided with applications that range from mapping and surveying to international air traffic management and global change research. This GPS system comprises commercial equipment that serves the growing demands from civil, military, commercial, and scientific users in the service industry thus leading the world. (U.S. Policy Statement Regarding GPS Availability)