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The European Space Agency and the European Union want to provide an alternative to GPS — Global Positioning System, the space-based satellite navigation system operated by the United States — called Galileo, named after the astronomer who gave us the precursor of Newtonian physics. Galileo is a €5 billion project intended for civilian use scheduled to be completed and operational by 2019, with 27 satellites and 3 spares orbiting 14,600 miles above Earth.
The system suffered a setback on Saturday, though, when two satellites launched from French Guiana failed to attain their intended orbit, Phys.Org reports ( http://phys.org/news/2014-08-galileo-satellites.html ). It’s not immediately clear why there was a malfunction, and the agencies involved are investigating. In the meantime, however, Galileo’s French coordinator spoke to Agence France-Presse (AFP) ( http://www.afp.com/en/news/two-galileo-satellites-lose-their-way ) and said it will be be complicated to correct the satellites’ orbits.
(Score: 2) by PinkyGigglebrain on Monday August 25 2014, @05:38PM
It is true that they try to keep the orbits of intel sats secret but with all the spotters communicating on the Internet it is getting much harder for them to do. Someone might have had the flash of insight that they can hide in plain sight.
But your probably right, somebody screwed up and forgot to shift a bit or something, it's just more fun to think it was all part of some big plan, and if it was intentional it would mean that all the people who did their best to get the sats built and launch didn't waste their effort. Ever have a project that you put a lot of effort into fail because someone else screwed up? In my case it usually results a very large tab at the local Tiki bar (flaming drinks do much to cheer me up).
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."