Global Positioning System

GPS is funded, operated and developed by the US military. It was first launched in 1978 and became available for civilian use in 1983.  The GPS satellite constellation achieved Full Operational Capability (FOC) in 1995, and is the only GNSS at present to have a full complement of satellites.  The US is updating the GPS system with GPS III satellites designed to provide new signals and greater capabilities.

For more information on GPS see the US Government’s GPS page.

GLONASS

GLONASS is a military satellite system owned by the Russian Government and operated by the Russian Space Agency ROSCOSMOS.  The first GLONASS satellite was launched in 1982, and the constellation was completed claiming Full Operational Capability (FOC) in 1995 though a lack of funding forced the system into disrepair. 

Russia is committed to revitalising GLONASS with plans to have continual coverage over Russia and surrounding territories by the end of 2007, and deployment of the full constellation providing global coverage by the end of 2009. 

Negotiations are underway between India and Russia to partner and jointly develop future improvements to the GLONASS system.

For official information on GLONASS see the Russian Space Agency Information page.

Galileo

Europe’s Galileo is planned to have a more open architecture whereby systems to improve service can be included inside the system as “regional elements”.

The business model for Galileo is also more open.  Expected to be publicly funded through the construction phase, it appears Galileo will use a Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the operational phase where the physical system (satellites, ground stations etc) will remain a public asset but an operating company will be responsible for the day-to-day operation.

The operating company can recover costs and generate profit through a commercial service, while delivering agreed service levels for the other four more public sector oriented services e.g. Safety-of-Life Service.

For official information on Galileo see the European Commission Directorate General Energy and Transport.

Compass

China has launched the first of its proposed Compass Global Navigation Satellite System satellites.  Compass (or BeiDou-2) has a proposed constellation of 35 satellites, 30 in orbits similar to GPS, and 5 geostationary satellites covering the Chinese mainland and surrounds.  Like GPS and GLONASS, Compass has been devised primarily for military use, though there will be a civilian element. 

The launch program for Compass is unknown at this point in time, though the Chinese Government has claimed that Compass will cover China and surrounds by 2008.

Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)

India is developing the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).  A constellation of three geostationary and four orbiting satellites, India expects the IRNSS to be completed in 2011–2012. 

India is also developing the GAGAN augmentation system.  Similar to WAAS and EGNOS, GAGAN will be interoperable with GPS and provide greater reliability than GPS alone.  GAGAN has been designed primarily for civil aviation over India and is expected to be completed in 2009.

Japanese Regional Advanced Navigation Satellite (JRANS)

Japan is planning a regional navigation satellite system called the Japanese Regional Advanced Navigation Satellite (JRANS).  The JRANS concept is intended to be deployed in two stages.  The first stage includes three satellites orbiting in a figure eight pattern called the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS).  The second stage adds a further three satellites into the QZSS configuration, and a complementary geostationary satellite.  The JRANS satellite signals are designed to be compatible with GPS signals.

Australia will be one of the few countries on earth with the ability to receive signals from all of these GNSS systems.