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Evolution

Project phases

The first phase for the development of the Galileo System was officially agreed on May 26, 2003 between the European Union and the European Space Agency. The Galileo program has been structured according to 3 phases:

  • Experimental Phase: In this phase, 2 satellites, GIOVE-A and GIOVE-B, were launched in December 2005 and April 2008 respectively. Its purpose was to characterize the environment of an intermediate circular orbit (MEO) by studying radiations, magnetic fields, etc., and to test in this environment the performance of the technology that would be onboard subsequent system satellites (atomic clocks and devices protected against radiation). They also provided an experimental signal that allowed securing the reserved frequency spectrum for Galileo.
  • In-Orbit Validation (IOV): During this phase, 4 satellites were launched, 2 in October 2011 and 2 in October 2012, with the purpose of validating the system using a reduced constellation composed of 4 satellites. To obtain position and time data, a minimum of 4 satellites is required along with a limited number of receiving stations. On March 12, 2013, it was possible to determine a location using the data offered by the Galileo System's spatial and terrestrial infrastructure.
  • Full Operational Capability (FOC): This phase consists of the deployment of the complete system consisting of 30 satellites, Control Centres located in Europe and a network of monitoring stations and uplink stations installed throughout the world. This phase includes an intermediate milestone of the initial operational capacity with 14 additional satellites to the 4 existing ones of the IOV phase. The full operational capacity of Galileo (FOC) is foreseen in 2019-2020, so this phase is still under development.

Galileo implementation plan

Along the completion of these phases, the European Program of Evolution of GNSS is developing a program of the European Space Agency (ESA) to carry out research, development and technological verification activities related to Galileo and EGNOS. One of the main objectives of this program until 2015 is the preparation of the future generation of Galileo (G2G), which will be introduced gradually in the early 2020s, by the time in which the first Galileo satellites already launched will have reached the end of their operational life. The activities of G2G include studies of the benefits, viability and impacts of the various concepts analysed at system level in the ground segment and in the satellite payload, etc. One of its main objectives is to compile all these studies to define a framework reference for the Galileo Second Generation (G2G), in which lessons learned from the first generation can be incorporated.

Public Regulated Service start-up

Although the availability of PRS service was initially foreseen when the Galileo satellite constellation had a full operational capacbility (FOC), previous "PRS participants to In-Orbit-Validation" (PPTI) tests were carried out due to the high interest of the member states. This ensures that Member States are in a position to use PRS operationally before the FOC stage is reached.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) will support the evaluation of PRS by users, ensuring joint tests whose objectives are:

  • Evaluation of the PRS Service in a suitable environment for tests and representative of a real use (using, for example, real signals from Galileo satellites).
  • Evaluate and promote the common use of the PRS Service by the different participants, as well as stimulate cooperation among them.
  • Provide lessons learned and feedback to the program's stakeholders.