Europe launches first Galileo satellite

Europe yesterday launched the first test satellite of its 3.4 billion euro Galileo satellite navigation system.

The final global network of 30 Galileo satellites is crucial to providing the high volumes of time- and location-based data needed for new services such as advanced sat-nav, mobile location data, natural disaster surveillance and air traffic control.

Powerful applications are expected on the roads; the Galileo network would allow a vehicle's exact movements to be tracked, presenting new possibilities for road-user charging and tolling.

Read on over at BBC.