Posted by John McHaleCANNES, France 28 April 2011. European Space Agency (ESA) officials, acting on behalf of the European Commission, selected Thales Alenia Space to supply a new version of the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System (EGNOS), that will upgrade obsolete systems and improve system operation.EGNOS is a European system that is designed to improve the Global Positioning System (GPS) information. It comprises a network of 38 reference stations, a data processing center, six uplink stations to send data to three geostationary satellites, and a control-command station. The system has been deployed since 2005 and has been operational in open service configuration since 2009. Its Safety of Life service was formally declared available in March 2011, enabling it to be used during the landing phase for civil aircraft, so that they can carry out precision approaches at European airports without ground guiding equipment. The 28-month contract is valued at 54.5 million euros
