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Russia's GLONASS navigation satellites will compete directly with the U.S.-owned GPS navigation system and eventually the E.U. Galileo constellation.
The space race against the former USSR may be heating up all over again.

This time, the target is not the moon, but the United States' virtual monopoly on terrestrial navigation based on satellite coordinates.

The New York Times reports that Russia's space agency is preparing to launch a constellation of eight satellites that will nearly complete a system designed to compete directly with the existing global positioning system technology of the United States.

Russia's system, called GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System), is expected to begin operations over Russian territory later this year, followed by coverage of adjacent parts of Europe and Asia. The system is intended to offer global navigation signals by 2009. Russia is not alone in its efforts to wrest control of the satellite navigation industry from the United States. While Russia is the front runner among other nations, China has already launched satellites for its own Baidu system. The European Union's Galileo positioning system is still in the planning stages, having hit a snag with its private contractors over potential profits.

Russian military officials have stated that the rationale behind the GLONASS system goes beyond commercial considerations. By controlling the only fully operational satellite navigation system in existence today, the United States holds a strategic advantage in times of conflict, according to the officials. In theory, the United States could deny GPS navigation signals to countries with which it has a dispute. Such actions could affect industries as diverse as agriculture, oil production and banking, to say nothing of military operations.

For the most part, the Russian system promises to be functionally equivalent to the existing GPS system. However, it could be more accurate than GPS in regions where Russia has better access to terrestrial navigation aids. Some companies are already designing dual-chip navigation devices that support both systems.

However, both the EU and U.S. will challenge Russia for next-generation satellite navigation coverage.   The European Galileo Global Navigation Satellite System is scheduled to come online in 2011 with higher precision than the existing GPS and GLONASS networks. However, delays put the Galileo project more than four years off schedule and counting.

The U.S. brought its GPS constellation online in 1995.  Congress approved funding to modernize the protocol 2000, dubbed GPS III.  This included bringing new civilian and military navigation channels online, as well as a "Saftey of Life" signal anticipated to come online next year.  Portions of this next-generation GPS are already functional, including the L2C civilian signal.

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Space war?
By kiwik on 4/6/2007 12:11:35 PM , Rating: 2
With China, Russia Europe and the USA, is this the beginning of a space control war?




RE: Space war?
By James Holden on 4/6/2007 12:15:42 PM , Rating: 2
If that's the case, then the US won back in 1995.


RE: Space war?
By Oregonian2 on 4/6/2007 2:47:04 PM , Rating: 2
I think this is a crazy slant on things. The press must be warmongers!

It's just that these other countries are 12 or more years behind the U.S. in this particular technology and are finally catching up with the technology. Good for them!

As to accuracy, the biggest problem with my usage isn't the GPS's accuracy, it's probably the availability of maps for where I am (esp. in visits to Eastern Europe).

Availability of these new second generation systems put up by others will be a welcome thing so long as they allow Americans to use it for free just as the U.S. has allowed the rest of the world to use its system for free over the last 12 years -- something paid for by the U.S. taxpayer.


RE: Space war?
By aurareturn on 4/6/2007 4:06:31 PM , Rating: 1
We'll lose it if we continue to pour all our money into the "war on terrorism".


RE: Space war?
By TwistyKat on 4/6/2007 4:22:01 PM , Rating: 1
Don't forget the money pit that is the "War on Drugs".

Maybe someday we'll learn to chill out and spend our money on important things, like healthcare for all.


RE: Space war?
By hobbes7869 on 4/6/2007 7:43:37 PM , Rating: 2
Yeah, healthcare for all, until some other country decides, "hey they don't have any military left, let take them over!" And we do have healthcare for all, it simply costs money.


RE: Space war?
By dever on 4/7/2007 11:34:04 AM , Rating: 2
You weren't completely out of line until you mentioned healthcare. I'm assuming you actually mean taking money away from one person who works for it and giving it to someone else.

The United States has THE best healthcare system in the world, and this is due to the fact that it is mostly competative. Take away the few free market pressures our current system has, and our healthcare will go to hell in a hand basket.


RE: Space war?
By therealnickdanger on 4/7/2007 3:55:02 PM , Rating: 2
I live in Minnesota and I can't even begin to count the number of uber-wealthy from Europe, Japan, foreign dignitaries, princes and other world figures that have sought medical attention at our own Mayo Clinic in Rochester.


RE: Space war?
By Scrogneugneu on 4/8/2007 2:58:37 AM , Rating: 5
quote:
The United States has THE best healthcare system in the world


I don't know if it's true, but what I DO know is that even if it is, it's only available to a very small percentage of the population, due to the very high costs involved.

I prefer the way we have over here. Free for everyone. Getting slightly lower quality health care (but still perfectly acceptable) is way better than getting nothing at all (or selling your house for it).


RE: Space war?
By JoeBanana on 4/6/2007 12:25:19 PM , Rating: 2
I dont think so, but its good that GPS will finaly get some commpetition.


RE: Space war?
By i4mt3hwin on 4/6/2007 12:28:45 PM , Rating: 3
Competition for what? It's not like buying a GPS unit costs monthly. Besides our current GPS can track to like 3 feet or something retarded, who the hell needs more accuracy?


RE: Space war?
By Martin Blank on 4/6/2007 12:49:11 PM , Rating: 2
System price, for one, and availability for another. More systems means more competition to lower prices to sell more units. Also, if one system gets better signals in hard to reach areas, it may gain an edge and lead the other system(s) to improve service.

On a conspiracy note, suppose something happens and the US government gets the idea to knock down civilian GPS accuracy for some reason (and this applies to any US administration, current or future). If the European and Russian systems are available, there's less likelihood that this will occur, because it will be a) pointless and b) damaging to US companies that make GPS receivers.


RE: Space war?
By BMFPitt on 4/6/2007 1:17:24 PM , Rating: 3
There is no price involved. The US and Russian civilian systems are both free. It means nothing to either side whose signal you receive.

There are only 2 reasons for this.
1) To have access to their own more-accurate military signal.
2) To prevent a loss of service in the event of a war, as you noted.


RE: Space war?
By Martin Blank on 4/6/2007 5:01:48 PM , Rating: 2
There is a price involved: the price of the receiver. If GLONASS and Galileo have cheaper receivers that provide substantially the same quality, they will be more desirable in the eyes of the consumers, causing GPS unit prices to drop or services to improve. Wins for the consumer.


RE: Space war?
By BMFPitt on 4/6/2007 5:30:17 PM , Rating: 2
Like how TVs get cheaper when new channels come out?

You're really not thinking this through.


RE: Space war?
By alcalde on 4/6/2007 7:30:48 PM , Rating: 2
If channels were broadcast with stronger signals or a different protocol that required a less-complicated or less power-draining antenna system or signal processor, then yes, it could result in lower-cost tvs. Same with GPS. If reception/processing components/chipsets for the new system(s) cost less than for GPS, then money could be saved.


RE: Space war?
By the1physicist on 4/6/2007 1:20:09 PM , Rating: 2
"who the hell needs more accuracy?"

If you want to use GPS to track the location of cars so computers can drive for us, you need that kind of accuracy.


RE: Space war?
By drank12quartsstrohsbeer on 4/6/2007 1:44:37 PM , Rating: 2
Unless someone can make an unblockable signal, I don't think that will ever happen.

Can you imagine the mayhem that one nerd with a transmitter could cause?


RE: Space war?
By FITCamaro on 4/6/2007 1:49:08 PM , Rating: 1
Don't even go there. People are lazy enough. The last thing we need is for computers to start driving for us too.


RE: Space war?
By DigitalFreak on 4/6/2007 2:15:52 PM , Rating: 5
People can't drive for shit. I'd rather have a computer doing it.