Galileo

A planned Global Positioning Satellite System (GPSS) of 30 low-earth orbit satellites backed by the European Union and the European Space Agency and originally due for commercial operation in 2008. Galileo was delayed by funding problems, because private enterprise had showed little interest. The European Parliament agreed with the Council of Europe in November 2007 to finance the deployment entirely from European Union funds, and after a validation phase due for completion in 2010, the service is now scheduled to go into operation in 2013. Galileo will complement the U.S. Government’s GPS system, which ran into problems with development delays for replacement satellites. The Russian Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) has been guaranteed funding through 2009 and is being expanded to provide worldwide coverage with the launch of additional satellites during 2009.