EGNOS Status, performances and Planned Evolutions (2006-2010)

摘要

The European Tripartite Group (ETG), (ESA -EC -EUROCONTROL) has implemented, via the EGNOS project, the European SBAS contribution to the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS-1). The European Space Agency (ESA) has been in charge of the system design, development and qualification of an Advanced Operational Capability (AOC) of the EGNOS system (also known as EGNOS V1). At the time of writing (July 2005), EGNOS has reached major key milestones through the formal technical qualification process (known as ORR--Operational Readiness Review) and the formal start of initial operations. This two events mark a success completion of more than 8 years of intensive work by ESA and European industry. In this article, we provide first some detailed information on the EGNOS V1 Project status, information on the formal technical qualification, and the start of initial operations. Next, this paper will provide information on EGNOS V1 measured and qualified performances, showing they are excellent, exceeding in several cases the expected requirements. In parallel to the start of EGNOS V1 operations, and similarly to the WAAS US Systems, EGNOS V1 will be subjected to modernized versions, the so called EGNOS V2 and EGNOS V3. These are aiming at enlarging the service area; provide additional services; further improve performances and to follow SBAS standard evolutions, which may result as a consequence of GPS modernisation and the introduction of the European Galileo system. Current views on the EGNOS Infrastructure evolution plans will also be described here.