Second Galileo Test Satellite Now in Orbit 157
Simon (S2) writes to mention that Europe's second Galileo navigation satellite reached orbit this past weekend. Galileo is promising to offer several technological advances in comparison to the US-based GPS system but no longer promises to be a guaranteed service. "The Galileo programme now seems certain to go ahead, after a prolonged and painful shift from partly-private financing of the construction to public funds taken from unspent EU farm subsidies. This money would normally have been returned to donor nations, with the UK, Germany and the Netherlands as the biggest three. London MPs have expressed doubt as to whether the UK will receive value for the money it will pay, but have acknowledged that the British government doesn't actually have any choice about Galileo under EU funding rules."
Two?!!? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Two?!!? (Score:4, Funny)
Ssh (Score:3, Funny)
Simple: as far as English politics is concerned (and UK politics to a lesser extent), once you pass outside the M25 you enter a deserted wasteland which extends as far as the Channel, the North Sea and the Irish Sea (or possibly the Atlantic, but no Londoner has ever travelled that far to check).
On the other hand, I wouldn't tell them. Just keep quiet and maybe they won't interfere with your life too much.
Re:Two?!!? (Score:3, Funny)
You're either in sight of satellite A, B, both, or neither.
That really narrows it down!
Of course for the case of both, you are probably already in orbit, so that really doesn't count as "on earth".
Lets stick with three then. We can claim a 50% improvement on the number of locations you could be in over the previous 2(can see satellite/can't see satellite).
Whew, and I'm spent. Good job.
Re:Two?!!? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Two?!!? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Two?!!? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Two?!!? (Score:4, Funny)
Nope. Canada is our front yard, with well trimmed grass and a white picket fence; the back yard, where the septic tank and broken down cars are located is in the other direction./p.
Re:Two?!!? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Galileo? (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Two?!!? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Ssh (Score:3, Funny)
Scotland
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| M1 (The North ^)
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London
There was nothing between London and Scotland except for the narrow strip of the M1.
Re:Galileo? (Score:3, Funny)
as a European, I'm not comfortable with a critical infrastructure like GPS in the hands of the US.
If you don't like it then you should launch your own damn satellites and... oh wait never mind.
And you're gonna need a lot more than just two! Better steal some more money from the farmers...