United Kingdom Global Navigation Satellite System

The United Kingdom Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is in development to rival the European Union’s Galileo Global Navigation Satellite System after Brexit.[1]

UK Global Navigation Satellite System
Country/ies of origin United Kingdom
Operator(s)UK Space Agency
TypeMilitary, civilian
StatusIn development
CoverageGlobal
Constellation size
First launchPlanned for 2025

The system will be run by the United Kingdom Space Agency. Satellites are planned to be launched from the proposed spaceport in Sutherland, Scotland using a vertical launch platform in 2025,[2] with the United Kingdom GNSS planned to be fully operational by 2030.[3] In 2019, it was estimated that the cost of the project would be £5 billion.[4] [5]

The United Kingdom government has said that it wants the United Kingdom GNSS to be openly compatible with the United States' Global Positioning System (GPS) and Five Eyes. Both the United States of America and the other Five Eyes nations are contributing their expertise to assist the planning and construction, and in exchange these nations will gain access to the United Kingdom's GNSS encrypted area after it is launched.[6][7] [8]

History

The United Kingdom GNSS was first discussed by the UK government in May 2018, after the European Union told the United Kingdom that it would no longer be able to use the secure component of the EU's Galileo,[9] [10] the equivalent of the USA's GPS. One suggested name for the UK Global Navigation Satellite System GNSS is Newton, after the English mathematician Sir Isaac Newton.[11]

In November 2019, the United Kingdom's Space Trade Association (UKSA) released a United Kingdom Space Manifesto, in which they state that the United Kingdom "participation in a new global satellite navigation system must be secured".[12][13]

In July 2020, the United Kingdom Government and India's Bharti Enterprises were successful in a joint bid to purchase the bankrupt OneWeb satellite company, with the UK paying $500m (£400m) for a 45% stake.[14]

References
  1. News, Sky (1 December 2018). "Brexit: UK to build own satellite system after May rules out using EU's Galileo project". Sky News.
  2. Inside, GNSS (14 February 2020). "Scottish rocket site planned could it launch British GNSS". Inside GNSS.
  3. Hoare, Callum (9 December 2019). "£5billion Galileo replacement revealed as Boris Johnson plans 2030 'full system' launch". Express.
  4. Kantaria, Priya (20 February 2019). "UK Galileo alternative costs just 3% of the EU satellite". Verdict.
  5. McGrath, Ciaran (23 August 2019). "Forget EU! UK can build a BETTER version of Galileo - for just a fraction of the cost". Express.
  6. Hoare, Callum (10 December 2019). "UK Galileo replacement to integrate with US GPS as Brexit inspires 'new relationship'". Express.
  7. Titcomb, James (19 August 2019). "UK seeks 'Five Eyes' alliance on satellite rival to EU's Galileo". The Telegraph.
  8. GNSS, Inside (21 August 2019). "A Very British GNSS Could Be On the Horizon". Inside GNSS.
  9. Smith (University of Portsmouth), Anne (18 May 2018). "Galileo row: Brexit will bar UK from EU sat-nav programme, but Britain could build its own". The Conversation.
  10. Dan, Sabbagh (28 August 2018). "Teresa May pledges Galileo alternative if UK locked out of satnav system". The Guardian.
  11. Europa, Government (20 February 2019). "UK Galileo replacement proposed". Government Europa.
  12. Chaturvedi, Aditya (26 November 2019). "2020 manifesto emphasises UK's own GNSS system, calls for national space program". Geospatial World.
  13. Cozzens, Tracy (2 December 2019). "UK Space Manifesto Recommends Post - Brexit GNSS". GPS World.
  14. "UK takes £400m stake in satellite firm OneWeb". BBC News. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
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