Galileo Navigation System By European Union Rivals United States’ GPS

Galileo Navigation System, named after the renowned astronomer Galileo, has been set into motion by the European Space Agency.

With this latest development, the European Union will have its own navigation system, much like the Global Positioning System (GPS) of the United States.

The project was on the anvil for many years and was finally kickstarted last month after initial snags and teething troubles.  According to the European Space Agency, the newly launched Galileo Navigation System will enable accurate location data to many services -- financial, logistics, government and personal users.  

The Galileo Navigation System will be a shot in the arm in all spheres especially in the present age when advanced and hi-tech systems and products rule the roost.

It is designed to be an impetus to search and rescue operations especially when people get lost at sea. The Galileo Navigation System can quickly locate the distress signals without delay, where every minute can mean the difference between life and death.

Precision timing, the main USP of this ESA brainchild, will be a boon to the financial industry as well as in other products and systems where real-time logistics can provide the needed thrust.

As with all new projects, the Galileo was not devoid of teething troubles as well. The initial 18 Galileo satellites developed snags. Last month was a milestone as the European Space Agency successfully launched four satellites on a single rocket. Now, the agency is gearing up to introduce 24 satellites in the next four years. It will also address the spares area, which will also be placed in orbit during this timeframe.

The Galileo Navigation System is estimated to cost € 3 billion (~US$3,114,300,000) by the time it is completely operational by 2020, Indian Express reveals.

The Galileo Navigation System that supports only a few systems so far unlike the GPS, which has spread its reach far and wide, will be upping its ante in the coming months and years.

At an age when self-driven cars will be a reality and smartphones will only get smarter and more hi-tech, the Galileo Navigation System may just be what the doctor ordered.