When completed, EGNOS will consist of three geostationary satellites and a network of ground stations that will transmit signals containing information on the reliability and accuracy of the positioning signals sent out by GPS and GLONASS. It will enable users in Europe and beyond to determine their position within 2m compared with about 20m with GPS.

Since 2000 a prototype of the system (the EGNOS System Test Bed, ESTB) has been providing test signals, fully demonstrating its worth and validity.

By spring 2004 the full network needed for this augmentation system will have been deployed all around Europe and beyond. It will comprise monitoring stations, called RIMSs (Ranging and Integrity Monitoring Stations), and several Master Control Centres, the first of which is already installed in Langen, Germany.

Altogether, nearly 40 stations will be deployed.

This installation phase includes the testing of all equipment. This necessitates the availability of a signal in space and that is why the first signal is so important.

EGNOS is a joint project of the European Space Agency, the European Commission and Eurocontrol, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation. It is Europeís contribution to the first stage of the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and is a precursor to Galileo, the full global satellite navigation system under development in Europe.

Event in Langen, Germany:

This "first signal in space" of the satellite system will be relayed from the first EGNOS master control centre in Europe, located in the DFS air traffic control centre in Langen, near Frankfurt (Germany).

The European Space Agency and DFS are pleased to invite you to this event, which takes place on 6 June at 10:30 hrs at the headquarters of DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH - Am DFS-Campus 10 - 63225 Langen (Germany).

Dieter Kaden, DFS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Claudio Mastracci, ESA Director of Application Programmes, will be there to describe the various functionalities of the system.

We would appreciate it if you would reply by fax as soon as possible to DFS using the attached form or contact us by telephone on +49 6103 707-4111 or by e-mail to claudia.sielaff@dfs.de

For more Information on EGNOS:

ESA Media Office

ESA Applications Directorate:

Dominique Detain

Tel: + 33(0)1.5369.7726

dominique.detain@esa.int

www.esa/int/navigation/

 
 
First EGNOS signal in space

Friday 6 June 2003 - 10h30

DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH Headquarters

Am DFS-Campus 10 - 63225-Langen (Germany)

Surname: ___________________ First name: ___________________

Media : ____________________________________________________

Address : __________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Tel: ____________________ Fax :_____________________________

Mobile : ________________ E-mail :_________________________

Please return by fax to :

Claudia Sielaff

DFS

Tel: +49 6103.707.4111

Fax: +49 6103 707-4196

e-mail: claudia.sielaff@dfs.de