Galileo: the European Large and Complex System for Global Satellite Navigation
GNSS Services Engineering, European Space Agency, Marco Lisi · Open Journal of Remote Sensing and Positioning · 2014
With 4 satellites in space, launched by pair on 21 October 2011 and 12 October 2012 from Kourou, French Guiana, the Galileo project is completing the In-Orbit Validation (IOV) phase, aimed at qualifying the Galileo space, ground and user segments through extensive in-orbit/onground tests and operations of a core satellite constellation and of the associated ground segment. The In-Orbit Validation (IOV) architecture is being implemented as an integral part of the Full Operational Capability (FOC), i.e. the complete system, consisting of 30 satellites and a set of remote stations distributed worldwide to command and monitor the constellation and deliver the navigation and timing services to the users. When validated, it will be progressively completed, in a staggered approach, to reach the FOC. Full operations and services will commence when all the satellites have been deployed. However, after a political decision of Vice-President Antonio Tajani, then included by President Manuel Barroso in the agenda of the European Commission, Galileo will start delivering Early Services as from the end of 2014. The paper summarizes the present status of the Galileo development and procurement activities. Moreover, it describes the engineering of Galileo as a service-oriented system, in terms of service infrastructures, organization, methodologies, processes and procedures.