Posted on 12/29/2005 12:18:02 AM PST by ATOMIC_PUNK
PARIS—A satellite blasted into space yesterday to launch the European Union's $4 billion planned rival to the United States' Global Positioning System.
The test satellite took off from Kazakhstan aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket. The 600-kilogram satellite was released into orbit nearly four hours later, when it began transmitting signals.
"If the Americans want to scramble GPS, they can do it whenever they want ... whereas our system is a civilian-based system run by a civilian authority and would be completely autonomous," said Bonacina.
As it orbits 23,000 kilometres above the Earth, the satellite will test atomic clocks and navigation signals and secure Galileo's frequencies in space.
Snips
(Excerpt) Read more at thestar.com ...
<< If the Americans want to scramble GPS, they can do it whenever they want ... whereas our system is a civilian-based system run by a civilian authority and would be completely autonomous ... >>
The Iranians, the Russians and the Chinese - just for starters [And never mind the Indians we call Pakistanis and the other Indians we call Indians] - will be thrilled.
And of course the Euro-peons [Eurabians] won't mind a bit.
As they shall all be dead.
Where does their virtual compass point to? Mecca?
> our system is a civilian-based system run by a civilian authority and would be completely autonomous," said Bonacina.
It probably won't work anyhow, and may result in lots of people getting lost. I'll get excited when Europe manages to land a man on the moon.
When I venture forth into the "bush" (what Yanks call the "woods" or the "toolies", or what Ozzies call "The Outback"), I do not rely on European technology: it is junk.
I take a KA-Bar and leave my Swiss Army Knife at home. I take a Zippo and at least two other ways to make fire. And I take a NAVMAN GPS with extra batteries, just to be on the safe side.
> "If the Americans want to scramble GPS, they can do it whenever they want
Fine. If the Yanks want to do that, it is their prerogative: the Yanks Giveth and the Yanks Taketh Away. That is what I have my USFS surplus compass and a waterproof map for. Crikey.
of course when the system screws up, there call on our guys to give them the proper components.
any way, we came up with gps back in the late seventies and the eighties and they are just now developing there own system? there innovations astound me.
Europe is just trying to flex there "muscle" and try and one up us... with technology we have had for decades.
I hear next month the EU's having a festive rollout of "8-track tape technology for the 21st century," and next year there's even talk about "crockpot cooking," if you can imagine such a thing.
Eeet weell be a Crock Pot, but only bettterrr. Eeet weelll be a Kochpot, and eet weell have a swiss timer.
Actually, I've read there's a new French crock pot coming out. It only cooks chicken. ;)
Neither these satellites nor the GPS ones are attack proof. Imagine the chaos if rogue missiles took them out.
> Actually, I've read there's a new French crock pot coming out. It only cooks chicken. ;)
HAW! That's hell-funny! Beauty, mate! Cheers!
BTW, love your screen name. I have the "Pyromania" CD in at the moment.
> I have the "Pyromania" CD in at the moment.
Listening to it right now, myself... and thanks!
often emulated and seldon duplicated....
We also call it 'the sticks'.
You're right- there's no substitute for good kit. Also endlessly-handy items to have along - a box of large sized heavyweight plastic trash bags and lots of 550 cord. I friend and I once built a primitive and very-waterproof shelter in the Sierra Nevada mountains and stayed in it for a few days- in the wintertime.
Map and compass land navigation is becoming a lost art- I'm sorry to say.
A few guesses...
IMO, the EU GPS will be more likely a supplement to the US system than a rival. There'll probably come a time when all will need to have ours off and theirs on. If US defense wanted a capability to interfere with the EU's system, that would most likely be in cooperation with the EU to protect a country in the EU from being hit.
A friend was talking about the GPS system in his car. After his lengthly dissertation on the "wonder", I got a map from my car and said: "2 bucks".......I've had it for 5 years...it's never failed me...and the best thing is......it doesn't talk!!
> Map and compass land navigation is becoming a lost art- I'm sorry to say.
It is, and there's no excuse. They still teach it (I hope?) in Boy Scouts?
> and the best thing is......it doesn't talk!!
And no batteries required!
> IMO, the EU GPS will be more likely a supplement to the US system than a rival.
You may be right, but I'd be surprised if the US would ever put itself into a position of being co-dependent on anybody else's technology.
I believe this EU thing will be a toy, nothing more. Like I said, I'll take notice when the EU or anybody else can land men on the moon -- and gittem' back home safely. 30+ years have gone by, and it hasn't happened yet.
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