Satellite Navigation

NovAtel Awarded Galileo Contract

NovAtel has been granted a contract by the European Space Agency (ESA) for definition work on Galileo, the proposed European satellite navigation system. The $126,700 contract calls for NovAtel to provide input to ESA on signal validation and receiver development requirements. The company will also review draft Galileo signal specifications and provide feedback on receiver performance, development requirements and cost implications. Working directly with ESA technical management, NovAtel expects that the study will be complete during the next six to eight months. Jointly initiated by the European Union and ESA, the Galileo project aims to launch a series of Medium Earth Orbit satellites in three orbital planes at 20,000 km monitored by a network of ground control stations, to provide world navigation services.

Russia Offers India GLONASS Deal

Russia has offered India joint participation in development of its GLONASS satellite navigation system on an equal basis The Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), which was officially launched in 1993, is a Russian counterpart to the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS). It fixes the location and speed of surface, sea and air objects to within an accuracy of one meter. Russia and India have been cooperating on use of GLONASS for more than four years

Russian GLONASS GPS Designer Fired

The chief designer or Russia’s Glonass satellite navigation system, Yury Urlichich, has been dismissed. The Glonass program has been in the works since the 1970s, but underwent a radical revamp in 2001. The 24 satellites comprising the system were put into orbit by 2010, The program cost 140 billion rubles (US$4.4 billion) to implement, and its budget for 2012-2020 stands at a further 326 billion rubles (US$10 billion).

Galileo Gets 450M Euros to Proceed

The European Transport Council (i.e. the Transport Ministers of the European Member States), which met in Brussels on March 25-26, has released from the European Community budget the 450 million Euro necessary to launch the Galileo satellite navigation project. The Commission was asked to set up the "Joint Undertaking" (the authority overseeing the management of Galileo's development phase) without delay. Galileo has been stalled for 15 months

Vessel Focus: Navy Boats

Halter Responds To Venezuelan Navy Needs Halter Marine has answered the call from the Venezuelan Navy for a variety of patrol boats. The company recently delivered four 80 ft. (24.3 m) boats to the country's government, which completes the contract for the design and construction of 12 total vessels in this size range. Designed for high speed operations in coastal and riverine environments, the vessels will be used for a variety of patrolling efforts in Venezuelan territorial waters

EC confirms funding for GALILEO

The European Commission (EC) said funding for the GALILEO project of radio navigation satellites has been confirmed. Deployment of the satellites, which will complement the GPS system, is scheduled to begin in 2006, with full operation to begin in 2008.

This Day in Naval History - April 13

From the Navy News Service 1847 - Naval Forces begin a five-day battle to capture several towns in Mexico. 1861 - Fort Sumter surrenders to Confederate forces. 1960 - The Navy's navigation satellite, Transit, is placed into orbit from Cape Canaveral, Fla., and demonstrates ability to launch another satellite.

KVH Wins 4 NMEA Awards Again

For the second year in a row, two communications systems and two navigation products from KVH Industries, Inc. have earned "best product" awards from The National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA). TracVision 3, a new 1999 system based upon last year's award-winning TracVision II, was voted Best Satellite Television System, and Tracphone 25 was again named Best Satellite Telephone System. The company's new Azimuth GyroTrac was named Best Gyro Compass and the Azimuth 1000 was once again

This Day in Naval History – April 13

1847 - Naval Forces begin 5 day battle to capture several towns in Mexico 1861 - Fort Sumter surrenders to Confederate forces 1960 - Navy's navigation satellite, Transit, placed into orbit from Cape Canaveral, FL and demonstrates ability to launch another satellite (Source: Navy News Service)

TerraMar Networks Partners with Orbcomm

TerraMar Networks Limited has entered into an agreement with Orbcomm Inc. (Nasdaq: ORBC), a  global satellite data communications company, to create one of the broadest and most complete maritime asset tracking offerings on the market. Orbcomm’s satellite AIS service receives a ship’s identification, position and other critical data.  This data can be used to assist in vessel tracking, maritime navigation and safety