Press Release

Europe’s first Master Control Centre for satellite navigation

By SpaceRef Editor

June 13, 2003

Filed under European Space Agency, US

The recent inauguration in Germany of the first Master Control Centre (MCC) for
the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) marked an
important step in the advancement of Europe’s own satellite navigation system.

"Where Europe really will make the difference is with the integrity provided,
compared to GPS. This is starting with EGNOS and will go on with Galileo",
explains Claudio Mastracci, ESA Director of Applications at the inauguration of
the first Master Control Centre of the EGNOS system inside the DFS (German Air
Navigation Services) facilities in Langen, near Frankfurt, Germany. Dieter
Kaden, DFS Chairman and CEO adds, "Satellite navigation will improve aircraft
safety and with EGNOS we can see the first illustration of it".

By correcting global positioning system (GPS) signals, EGNOS gives an accuracy
of down to 2 metres, compared to the less accurate 15 to 20 m provided by GPS
signals. EGNOS achieves this through a network of ground elements. These are
currently being installed all over Europe.

The elements that make up the EGNOS system include: Ranging and Integrity
Monitoring Stations (RIMS) which pick up the GPS signals, the Master Control
Centres (MCCs) to process the data delivered by the RIMS and uplink stations
which send the signal to three geostationary satellites which relay it back to
the ground to the users.

EGNOS is Europe’s first step into satellite navigation, paving the way for
Galileo. Its service availability is due in spring 2004 and is currently in its
technical verification phase.

Deployments so far include 12 RIMS and one MCC (in Langen, Germany). Three other
Mission Control Centres are to be installed: Torrejon (Spain), Ciampino (Italy)
and Swanwick (England). A further 22 RIMS are also being deployed. For this,
agreements with 28 hosting entities have been made which gives an idea of the
intricate network that EGNOS represents.

EGNOS is an initiative of the European Space Agency (ESA), the European
Commission and Eurocontrol. The EGNOS System Test Bed (ESTB) has been providing
signals since 2001 but now the EGNOS network itself is being tested with what is
symbolically called the EGNOS ëfirst signal in space’.

GPS receivers are already using EGNOS-like signals broadcast by the ESTB, though
these correction signals will be reliable only next year, when the service is
fully available.

Developed for civil aviation EGNOS is to provide a highly accurate signal, and
has the potential for worldwide coverage making it an efficient tool for air
safety. There are, however, many other possible applications: trains, buses and
even guiding the blind.

With EGNOS, Europe is proving its know how in satellite navigation and creating
a community of users in Europe and beyond for the benefit of everyone, everywhere.

Related links

* ESA’s Navigation homepage
http://www.esa.int/export/esaSA/navigation.html
* EGNOS System Test Bed (ESTB) website
http://www.esa.int/export/esaEG/estb.html

More information

* What is EGNOS?
http://www.esa.int/esaSA/GGG63950NDC_navigation_0.html
* How does EGNOS work?
http://www.esa.int/esaSA/GGGQI950NDC_navigation_0.html
* Who’s involved in EGNOS
http://www.esa.int/esaSA/GGGYIA50NDC_navigation_0.html
* Who benefits from EGNOS
http://www.esa.int/esaSA/ESAG130VMOC_navigation_0.html
* Interoperability
http://www.esa.int/esaSA/ESAF530VMOC_navigation_0.html
* Satellite navigation today
http://www.esa.int/esaSA/ESA9IYZK0TC_navigation_0.html
* What is Galileo?
http://www.esa.int/esaSA/GGGMX650NDC_navigation_0.html

IMAGE CAPTIONS:

[Image 1:
http://www.esa.int/export/esaSA/SEM5NYS1VED_navigation_1.html]
From left to right, Laurent Gauthier EGNOS Project Manager, Dieter Kaden DFS
CEO and Claudio Mastracci ESA Director of Applications at the inauguration in
Germany of the first Master Control Centre (MCC) for the European Geostationary
Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS).

Credits: ESA

[Image 2:
http://www.esa.int/export/esaSA/SEM5NYS1VED_navigation_1.html#subhead1]
The elements that make up the EGNOS system include: RIMS (Ranging and Integrity
Monitoring Stations) which pick up the GPS signals, the MCCs (Master Control
Centres) to process the data delivered by the RIMS and uplink stations which
send the signal to three geostationary satellites which relay it back to the
ground to the users. Deployments so far include 12 RIMS and one MCC (in Langen,
Germany).

Credits: ESA

SpaceRef Editor

SpaceRef staff editor.

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