By Steve Ranger, 25 August 2006 13:00
NEWS
The government is spending another €31m on the European Space Agency's development of the Galileo satellite navigation system.
Likely applications for Galileo once it is operational will include road pricing across the UK, from around 2014. (Click here to see photos of the satellites.)
Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling said Galileo has real potential to develop "groundbreaking" technology leading to more accurate in-car navigation and new systems for the emergency services to locate missing or injured people.
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UK businesses are playing a big role in the development of the system - Astrium UK and LogicaCMG are major partners in Galileo Industries, the consortium of European companies that will build the first four test satellites. The Galileo Operations Company will also be operated from London.
In addition, Surrey Satellite Technology has already led a consortium that built and launched the Giove-A demonstrator satellite.
The government is supporting a bid - backed by the Welsh Assembly Government - for Cardiff to host the Galileo Supervisory Authority.
The €31m is the UK's contribution to the European Space Agency's share of the development costs, equivalent to the contribution from the other major contributors France, Germany and Italy.
Comments
There are 3 comments. Join the discussion
1. anonymous
The Government should sort out its own country's problems before wasting money on overseas projects and satelittes
2. Radical Meldrew
Nothing ground breaking here, British taxpayers cash is being invested in a sky-borne road tax system which will mean we eventually get to pay for it again. Oh goody goody lets all open our wallets and join the queue !!
3. anonymous
Quite right Meldrew, We should abolish all taxes, privatise everything, NHS,Pensions,The armed services, Firefighters etc etc - the lot!