3,027 years from today, life will either be really good or really bad...
It's 5050!
Galileo satellite launchedIn 2005, the first in a network of satellites, named Galileo, was launched by a consortium of European goverments and companies. It was expected that by 2011, Galileo was to consist of 30 satellites providing worldwide coverage as an alternative to the U.S. monopoly with its Global Positioning System (GPS). At a cost of $4 billion, it was Europe's biggest-ever space project, with one-third contributed by governments and the balance from eight companies. Since the American GPS is controlled by the military, the European satellite network is designed to ensure independance for civilian use, but also offer more precision for a paid service. Customers are expected to include service for small airports, transportation, and mobile phone manufacturers to build in navigation capabilities.« |
