Galileo Satellite Navigation System

Pathfinder is part of a program to produce lunar navigation and communications infrastructure

Astronomy

ESA's Pathfinder mission to test sat-nav coverage in lunar orbit

ESA plans to use its upcoming Lunar Pathfinder mission to experiment with expanding sat nav coverage to the Moon. By tuning in to the Galileo and GPS satellite constellations, the goal is to provide more precise fixes for spacecraft in lunar orbit.

Astronomy

Britain pursuing GPS alternative to EU's Galileo program

After months of speculation, the British government has committed itself to developing an alternative satellite system if negotiations over the EU's Galileo system fail and has announced that it has begun A £92 million study to begin design and development of a sovereign British navigation system.

GSTB-V2/A in orbit (artist's impression)Photo: ESA

Science

Galileo signal reflections to monitor waves and weather at sea

A signal from a Galileo satellite has been captured after reflection off the ocean surface, opening the way for a system to provide severe weather warnings to mariners, data for global climate change models and even the potential to detect tsunamis.