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shamrock_uk · 11-03-2004, 04:19 PM

The answer Spirits is 'yes'. When you threaten to destroy another countries property (and especially your Allies?!) that is a very sure way to provoke space warfare. But your pentagon is getting rather good at warmongering these days

Snide comments aside, the European system makes perfect sense:

1) Firstly, if you're not lucky enough to work for the US military, GPS really isn't that great for a couple of reasons.

a) The Pentagon restricts accuracy so its only possible to tell your location to the nearest 50 feet I think. This is obviously fine for steering a ship, but there are plenty of new technologies in the pipeline which will want much higher accuracy. I believe Galileo will manage to the nearest metre.

b) GPS is really poor in built-up urban areas. Galileo is specifically designed so that resolution in urban areas is much much better. Future uses may include vehicle navigation or tracking for example so this is quite a plus.

2) GPS is really getting rather old. Technology is marching on so why not have something better?

3) The Pentagon controls it. Now this may not sound like a biggy if you're an American, but it leaves the rest of the world a bit uncomfortable. Feelings aside, it's also economically unwise, as the Pentagon can switch the signal off at any moment and as GPS becomes more and more important, the disruption caused to the rest of the world will be much greater.

4) It's also militarily unwise as plenty of other countries in the world no doubt use GPS for some of their guided missiles etc. Makes perfect sense in terms of national security for countries to not rely on the US. This would presumably tie in nicely with the general feeling in America that Europe should be more militarily self-sufficient.

5) Why not?! It's a free world. There is no reason that the US should have a monopoly in space. China have decided to send random rockets into space and that is entirely up to them but a bit pointless in my opinion. The Europeans are sending up a system which will be of benefit to the whole of the world for many years to come. I can't think of a better way to usher in a greater European role in space.

[ 11-03-2004, 04:25 PM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

11-03-2004, 04:19 PM	#4
shamrock_uk Dracolich Join Date: January 24, 2004 Location: UK Age: 42 Posts: 3,092	The answer Spirits is 'yes'. When you threaten to destroy another countries property (and especially your Allies?!) that is a very sure way to provoke space warfare. But your pentagon is getting rather good at warmongering these days Snide comments aside, the European system makes perfect sense: 1) Firstly, if you're not lucky enough to work for the US military, GPS really isn't that great for a couple of reasons. a) The Pentagon restricts accuracy so its only possible to tell your location to the nearest 50 feet I think. This is obviously fine for steering a ship, but there are plenty of new technologies in the pipeline which will want much higher accuracy. I believe Galileo will manage to the nearest metre. b) GPS is really poor in built-up urban areas. Galileo is specifically designed so that resolution in urban areas is much much better. Future uses may include vehicle navigation or tracking for example so this is quite a plus. 2) GPS is really getting rather old. Technology is marching on so why not have something better? 3) The Pentagon controls it. Now this may not sound like a biggy if you're an American, but it leaves the rest of the world a bit uncomfortable. Feelings aside, it's also economically unwise, as the Pentagon can switch the signal off at any moment and as GPS becomes more and more important, the disruption caused to the rest of the world will be much greater. 4) It's also militarily unwise as plenty of other countries in the world no doubt use GPS for some of their guided missiles etc. Makes perfect sense in terms of national security for countries to not rely on the US. This would presumably tie in nicely with the general feeling in America that Europe should be more militarily self-sufficient. 5) Why not?! It's a free world. There is no reason that the US should have a monopoly in space. China have decided to send random rockets into space and that is entirely up to them but a bit pointless in my opinion. The Europeans are sending up a system which will be of benefit to the whole of the world for many years to come. I can't think of a better way to usher in a greater European role in space. [ 11-03-2004, 04:25 PM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]