Hi Rolf
It is a sailing forum ,-so we are wondering off into space ,--literally
The Euro Space Agency -http://www.esa.int/esaCP/index.html
is interesting ,-THINK We need to work on this contest right away --copy

-€50 000 for good satellite navigation ideas

24 May 2005 European entrepreneurs, small businesses, academia and research institutes have the chance to win business development support worth €50 000 if they come up with the best idea for an innovative use of Galileo, Europe's coming global navigation satellite system.

We should be able as sailors to suggest an innovative use for Galileo nav .

On the GPS -the US govt developed the satelite system and methods of triangulation for navigation from them -
The numerous electronic units available are of course made by a variety of electronics companies .-Garmin -Magellin etc
http://www.thegpsstore.com/?OVRAW=GPS%20systems&OVKEY=gps%20system&OVMTC=standard

With the recent rejection on the EURO constitution and its numerous regulatory laws and rules it would impose ,--being recently rejected by the French and Dutch people by majority vote ,--which seems a severe slap in the face to the ruling elites like Chirac of FR ,--how does that effect such enterprizes as the ESA ?
just curious -I read articles like this on the subject in the US -
http://www.nationalreview.com/buckley/buckley200505311409.asp