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.