Yesterday, the first of the 30 satellites that will make up the Galileo satellite navigation system was launched from Baikonur in Kazakhstan. The weight of the Giove-A satellite, and its weight is 600 kg
Yesterday, the first of the 30 satellites that will make up the Galileo satellite navigation system was launched from Baikonur in Kazakhstan. The weight of the Giove-A satellite is 600 kg and it was launched at 05:19 Girinch time on Wednesday morning. The European Space Agency, which is establishing the system, expects that the establishment of the system will be completed within 5 years, and that its estimated value is 3.4 billion euros - About 4 billion dollars.
When the trial phase of the system ends, it will be able to provide navigation services anywhere, and in the future will also provide emergency services, road control and electronic commerce. The designers of the system hope that cars will eventually be able to steer themselves without a driver. One of the significant reasons for establishing the system is the European Union's desire to compete with the American satellite navigation system, GPS.
As I recall, in September 2005, in the capacity of the Minister of Transport and Communications and the Minister of Finance, Ehud Olmert, an agreement was signed for the entry of the Ministry of Defense into the management of the European project for satellite navigation - "Galileo". This is the final step that will regulate the entry of Israeli companies and entities into this project.
The Government of Israel will transfer, through Matimuf, to the "Galileo" program an amount of approximately NIS 100 million over 5 years, which will buy Israel a seat on the board of directors of the joint venture, and will allow, as mentioned, the participation of Israeli industry in the tenders of the first phase of the program. The assumption is that the companies that win the tenders of the first phase will also receive a performance order for the second commercial phase (26 satellites).
It should be noted that the State of Israel is one of the two countries outside of Europe that have so far been included in the "Galileo" program (the other country is China). Israel's participation in the "Galileo" program is of strategic importance in that, for the first time, the possibility of cooperation with the European Space Agency ESA was opened.
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