Digital signal generation technology and an atomic clock for Europe's Galileo global positioning system test satellites have been integrated successfully.
Tested at EADS Astrium's Portsmouth, UK facility, the clock and signal generator produce the primary navigation signal with which users will find their location. The test satellites will validate Galileo technologies in orbit before the 30 satellites needed for the constellation are launched.
Astrium is one of two companies building test satellites for Galileo. The other is UK-based Surrey Satellites Technology (SSTL), which is integrating its core GPS subsystems and constructing its satellite platform separately. Astrium and SSTL will provide their own platforms for their respective test satellites.
However, the core GPS technology is based on European Space Agency specifications and provided by a range of suppliers. Prime contractors for the antennas are Alenia and Casa; for the frequency generator unit, Nortech Datensysteme; and for the atomic clock monitoring control, Alcatel Espacio; and the atomic clocks Switzerland's Temex and EADS Astrium. Each Galileo satellite will use two atomic clocks.
One of the satellites will be launched in 2005 to broadcast the Galileo signal frequencies by June 2006, to secure them legally for the European navigation service.
ROB COPPINGER / LONDON
Source: Flight International
