161) The
“25 Euro Silver-Niobium Coin Series: (iv) 2003 onwards minted by the Austrian Mint
by using Niobium and Niobium metal insertion technology for the first time
anywhere in the World of Numismatics:
The Fourth
Coin in the Series: “European Satellite Navigation System” (2006):
Galileo is a Global
Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) being put in place by the European Union
(EU) and the European Space Agency (ESA). The Project is named after the
Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei and is being positioned to provide an
alternative high-precision positioning system for the European nations,
independent of the Russian GLONASS and US GPS systems .
The Galileo Programme is
Europe’s initiative for a state of the art global satellite navigation system,
providing a highly accurate, guaranteed global positioning service under
civilian control. The fully deployed system will consist of 30 satellites and
the associated ground infrastructure. Galileo will be inter-operable with GPS
and GLONASS, the other two global satellite navigation systems.
Galileo is intended to
provide horizontal and vertical position measurements within one metre precision
and better positioning services at high latitudes than other positioning
systems.
The complete Galileo
Constellation will comprise satellites spread evenly around three orbital
planes inclined at an angle of 56 degrees to the equator, (having 9 operational
satellites and 1 spare in each orbit). Each satellite will take about fourteen
hours to orbit the Earth. One satellite in each plane will be a spare i.e. on
stand-by, in case anyone of the operational satellite fails.
The first Galileo Services
are targeted to commence for civilian users by end-2014 and 2015. The
fully deployed 30 Satellite Galileo System (27 operational and 3 active spares)
is expected to be fully operational by 2020. Each satellite will have a
mass of 675 kgs and a lifetime of more than 12 years.
From most locations, six
to eight satellites will always be visible, allowing positions and timing to be
determined very accurately to within a few centimetres.
Since 2012, the
Headquarters of the Galileo Project is located in Prague’s district of
Holesovice. Galileo operations are controlled by two Ground Operations Centres
– one near Munich in Germany and the other in Fucino in Italy.
This Project is estimated
to cost over Euro 5 billion. In all, 4 InterOrbit Validation (IOV) satellites
and 23 Full Operational Capability (FOC) satellites and 3 FOC spares will be
placed in the Galileo constellation on full deployment of the project as
envisaged of now.
The use of basic
(low-precision) Galileo Services will be free and open to everyone. The
high-precision capabilities will be available for the paying commercial
users.
The
pre-Galileo GIOVE (Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element) Satellites:
GIOVE
A was launched on 20th December 2005, its
primary goal being to access the frequencies allotted to Galileo by the
International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
This was the first European Satellite to be launched into Medium Earth
Orbit (MEO). This satellite carries two environmental monitors that gather
vital data about the Galileo Intermediate Circular Orbit Environment (GICOE)
and helping in the design of the full constellation.
GIOVE
B was launched in 27th April 2008 and was the
first satellite to transmit Galileo signals. Key facilities in the testing of
GIOVE B signals are GIOVE B Control Centre at Telespazio’s facilities in
Fucino, Italy, the Galileo Processing Centre at ESA’s European Space Research and
technology centre (ESTEC) in the Netherlands, the ESA ground station at Redu,
Belgium and the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) Chilbolton Observatory in
the UK.
GIOVE
A2 was launched to extend the mission of GIOVE A for
securing the Galileo Programme by maintaining the critical ITU frequency and
facilitating the ongoing development of ground equipment.
The
GIOVE missions are currently providing experimental results based on real data
to be used to test the functioning of the system at further stages of its
deployment.
Signal analysis of the data has confirmed
successful operation of all Galileo signals with the tracking performance as
expected. This is essential for risk mitigation for the IOV satellites that
will follow on from the testbeds.
Galileo
Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) – Project Implementation:
On
21.10.2011, the launch of the first two operational satellites of the
EU’s global Navigation Satellite system from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou,
Guiana was made.
On
30.11.2011, the EU set aside a Euro 7.0 billion fund for completion of
the EU satellite Navigation infrastructure and to ensure the exploitation of
the systems until 2020, such as the operations of the space and terrestrial
infrastructures, the necessary replenishment/replacement activities,
certification procedures and the provision of services.
On
12.10.2012, the launch of Galileo’s third and fourth satellites from
Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, Guiana was made.
On
12.02.2013, positioning fix on all the first four operational satellites
was received, indicating that, these 4 satellites out of the total
constellation of 30 satellites were already deployed making it possible to
“test Galileo end-to-end”. Once this In-Orbit Validation (IOV) phase has been
completed, additional satellites are planned to be launched to reach initial
Operational Capability (IOC).
On
22.04.2014, the first launch of Galileo’s Fully Operational Capability
(FOC) satellites, (which was meant to join the current 4 of the In-Orbit
Validation (IOV) phase satellites which are in orbit already and were used to
conduct tests and validate technical solutions) met with reverses and did not
reach their intended orbital position leading to a setback in the Galileo
project implementation schedule. An action plan is being put in place to remedy
the situation.
After
the in-Orbit validation (IOV) phase is completed, the remaining satellites will
be placed in orbit at regular intervals to reach Full Operational Capacity
(FOC).
Coordination with
non-European partners and combining the power of systems, such as, GPS in the
USA, GLONASS in Russia and Galileo, has resulted in greatly improved
performances and users can access any of these worldwide systems seamlessly,
wherever they are located, without the need for different receivers.
The ultimate aim is to
ensure that satellite navigation systems remain fully integrated and
interoperable. China too is joining up with International GNSS partners for the
same purpose with its Satellite Navigation System Compass.
The European Union is also
supporting a number of satellite navigation-related activities in Latin America
and Africa so as to have a wider deployment of Satellite Navigation Systems
cooperating on a world-wide basis.
The EURO-MED Satellite
Navigation project is also encouraging training and demonstration activities
for the benefit of Europe’s Mediterranean partners.
Until the Galileo project
got underway, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) users around the world
depended on US GPS or Russian Glonass signals. Galileo has given users a new
and reliable alternative.
Applications:
Satellite positioning is
now an essential tool for all forms of transportation. If the GNSS signals are
switched off, several vehicles, ships and aircraft crew and average citizens
around the world would be literally lost.
Unlike GPS and GLONASS,
the Galileo project was conceived and developed and will always remain under
civilian control and not military control.
Initial
services to be provided from 2014 onwards:
The potential applications
of Satellite Navigation are virtually limitless.
Galileo will provide four
basic satellite related services to world-wide users:
- Galileo Open Service (OS) –
Free of charge for all users, featuring excellent positioning and timing
performance.
- Galileo Commercial Service
(CS) – Access to two additional encrypted and guaranteed
signals, delivering a higher data throughout rate and increased accuracy.
- Galileo Public Regulated
Service (PRS) – a special Galileo Navigation Service
using encrypted signals set up for better management of critical transport and
emergency services, better law enforcement, improved border control and safer
peace missions. This Service will provide position and timing to specific users
requiring a high continuity of service, with controlled access.
- In
addition, Galileo will form an
important element of MEOSAR (Medium Earth Orbit Search and Rescue Service)
and thus a key contributor to COSPAS – SARSAT, the international satellite –
based search and rescue distress alert detection and information distribution
system. As a matter of interest, 77% of simulated distress locations can
already be pinpointed within 2 kms and 95% within 5 kms and the Galileo Project
aims to reduce these distances further.
Some
Future Applications:
Galileo is creating a
range of new business opportunities for equipment manufacturers, application
developers and providers of “reliability-critical” services.
Guiding visually
challenged persons in an unknown city, locate persons lost at sea with a 3 metre
accuracy, guiding tractors by satellite for higher crop yields with much less
fertilizer, reducing fuel and time consumption on the road through better
traffic management, making flights and landings safer are some of the
applications which will be commonplace in the near future.
Location
based Services: This application integrates accurate
positioning signal receivers within mobile telephones, personal digital
assistants (PDAs), MP3 players, portable computers, cameras and video devices
will bring Galileo services directly to individuals.
“Mobile Yellow Pages” or
“Proximity services” providing users with information about nearby businesses
and services.
Dedicated positioning
devices will be available to tourists or hikers, for amusement park and museum
visitors and people within large shopping centres.
Emergency,
security and humanitarian services:
Galileo ready devices will
enable new security-related applications, permitting the location of stolen
property like pets etc.
Galileo signals facilitate
civil protection operations in harsh environments, speed up rescue operations
for persons in distress and provide tools for coast-guards and border control
authorities.
Science,
environment and weather services:
Galileo services will be
used to carry out scientific research in meteorology and geology, in the field
of geodesy, to track pollutants, dangerous goods and icebergs, to map the
oceans, study tides, currents and sea levels.
Galileo will allow
improved monitoring of the atmosphere, water vapour for weather forecasting and
climate studies, and the ionosphere for radio communications, space science and
earthquake prediction. It will also help to better understand the movements of
populations of wild animals.
The Scientific community
will benefit from high accuracy Galileo timing signals, allowing precise
adherence to international time standards and calibration of atomic clocks.
Transport:
Satellite navigation can
increase traffic safety and efficiency by improving the use of vehicles. Highly
accurate and reliable Galileo signals will serve fleet management, enabling
delivery of detailed maps or voice notifications to locate specific shipments
and containers in road transport, aviation, maritime, rail transport and even
pedestrian traffic.
Agriculture:
By integrating Galileo
signals with other technologies, the Agriculturists will benefit from improved
monitoring of the distribution and dilution of chemicals, improved parcel yield
as a result of customised treatment and more efficient property management.
Fisheries:
The fishing industry will
have more efficient information exchange between vessels and stations as well
as improved navigational aids for fishermen.
Civil
Engineering:
Accuracy and reliability
will be supplemented by digital mapping which will reduce costs and increase
productivity, while maintaining high construction standards from the planning
of new structures to the maintenance and surveillance of existing
infrastructure.
Finance,
Banking and Insurance:
Galileo’s extremely
accurate clock will provide certified time stamps to the financial transactions
while maintaining security, data integrity, authenticity and confidentiality in
electronic banking, e-commerce, stock market transactions, quality assurance
systems etc.
Energy:
The high quality of time
synchronisation represented by Galileo will mean better services for energy
transport and distribution.
In the oil and gas sector,
marine seismic exploration will benefit from Galileo services to seismic
acquisition vessels and seismic streamer arrays and gun arrays. High resolution
surveys of new sites and identification of any geomorphologic or geophysical
risks will also bring more safety to drilling operations.
GPS based services already
exist in many of these fields. The full deployment of the Galileo constellation
will increase the accuracy and reliability of information in these and a new
range of more beneficial and commercially profitable products and services.
European
Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) 2014:
The European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) looks for
services, products and business innovations that use satellite navigation in
everyday life.
The partners in the
competition are the GNSS stakeholders – the European GNSS Agency (GSA), the
European Space agency (ESA), the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), the European
Patent office (EPO) and the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital
Infrastructure (BMVI) in association with the Federal Ministry for Economic
Affairs and Energy. In addition, 26 partner regions from all over the world
hold regional challenges.
Over
the past decade (the competition is now in its 11th year), the ESNC
has brought forth numerous applications in the field of satellite navigation.
The ESNC rewards innovative services, products and business innovations that
use the European Satellite Navigation Technology in everyday life.
The
pool prize of the ESNC 2014 has a value of about EUR 1 million. Prizes included
cash awards, business incubation, business coaching, patent consulting, technical
support, access to testing facilities, prototype development, publicity,
marketing support etc.
The winners of the
European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) 2014 for designing the best
innovations in the commercial use of Satellite Navigation Technology were
felicitated in a function held in Berlin on 23.10.2014.
This year, the winning
entry was from Dr. Wolfgang Kogler and Dr. Jan Wendel of Airbus Defence &
Space whose entry was a path breaking and cost effective receiver for the
Galileo Public Regulated Service (PRS).
This low cost receiver will enable police
departments, fire brigades, emergency medical services and other public
entities to make use of the Galileo PRS system. Its core innovation involves
the development of a special network architecture that combines the receiver
with an assistance server. The concept accounts for all the necessary security
aspects required for accessing the encrypted PRS service and significantly
reduces the costs and complexity of user receivers.
Six special prizes and 25
Regional prizes were also given for other useful and innovative entries which
could be used in Galileo Satellite operations.
Since 2011, the European
Earth Monitoring Competition, the Copernicus Masters has also awarded ideas and
innovative solutions at the prize distribution ceremony.
On the Obverse of the coin is depicted
a compass with the geographical
coordinates showing the Austrian mint’s exact location in Vienna etched over
the eight cardinal points. The inscription “Position der Munze Osterreich
NORDLICHE BREITE 48 12’ 12”, 3 OSTLICH VON GREENWICH 16 22’ 58”, 7” is
mentioned on the compass, along with the year of issue “2006”. The outer silver
ring contains both the name of the country “Republik Osterreich” (meaning the
“Republic of Austria”) and the denomination of the coin “25 Euro”.
The colour of the Niobium insert (pill) is golden brown.
The colour of the Niobium insert (pill) is golden brown.
On the Reverse of the coin are depicted
the means of transport that make use of satellite navigation – an aeroplane,
train, ship and motor vehicles for which
the satellite navigation was developed, in the outer silver ring. The
inscription “EUROPAISCHE SATELLITE
NAVIGATION” (“European Satellite Navigation” appears in German). The Niobium
core shows numerous satellites orbiting the globe around four orbital planes,
their tracks spilling over into the silver ring.
The
specifications of the coin are:
Face value: 25 Euros;
Metallic composition: Outer ring: Silver (Ag) 900 – 9 gms, Niobium 998 – 6.50
gms; Diameter: 34 mm; Weight: 16.50 gms; Edge: smooth.
The mintage of this coin
was limited to a maximum of 65000 pieces.
The following coins have
been issued in this Series:
2003 – 700 years old Hall City in Tyrol or Tirol.
2004 – 150 years of Semmering
Alpine Railway
2005 – 50 years of
Television
2006 – The European
Satellite Navigation
2007 – Austrian Aviators
2008 – Fascinating light
2009 – Year of Astronomy
2010 – Renewable Energy Sources.
2011 – Robotics
2012 – Bionics
2013 – Drilling tunnels
2014 - Evolution2015 - Cosmology
Links:
1) The 25 Euro Silver-Niobium Coin Series issued by the Austrian Mint: First Coin: "700 Years of Hall City in Tirol or Tyrol"
Links to posts on Federal Republic of Germany issues and other posts on this blog:
For posts on COTY (Coin of the Year) winners since 2015 in a competition held by Krause Publications of Germany, please visit the following links:
Choudhary Roy S has commented:
ReplyDelete"Nice information".
Thank you.
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