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10. March 2026
Future Plans & Team Spirit: A Day at the Idea Factory
16. March 2026Woof. Major Carlo here. Office dog, lunch break security officer, and now also space correspondent.
The other day, I got to attend an event that took us high up—around 23,000 kilometers above our heads, to be precise. The topic of the evening: Galileo – Europe’s own navigation system. And I tell you, it was more exciting than any squirrel chase. Rolf Kozlowski, Managing Director of DLR GfR mbH, took us on an impressively exciting journey into orbit and back to Earth! It was almost like a taste of spacewalking.
Woof. Major Carlo here. Office dog, lunch break security officer, and now also space correspondent.
The other day, I got to attend an event that took us high up—around 23,000 kilometers above our heads, to be precise. The topic of the evening: Galileo – Europe's own navigation system. And I tell you, it was more exciting than any squirrel chase. Rolf Kozlowski, Managing Director of DLR GfR mbH, took us on an impressively exciting journey into orbit and back to Earth! It was almost like a taste of spacewalking.
Precision from space – not just for Google Maps
When people think of Galileo, many first think of navigation. In other words, where the boss parked the car or how to get to the nearest pet food store without any detours. In addition to determining location, the system provides extremely precise time information. And believe me—time is not only important for walking the dog or feeding.
- In rail transport, for example, inaccurate time information can have serious consequences.
- In civil aviation, on the other hand, signals must not be disrupted under any circumstances. If something goes out of sync there, it becomes critical.
Jamming? Spoofing? Sounds like dog tricks—but it's serious.
At first, I thought “jamming” meant stealing jam. Wrong. It means deliberately disrupting signals. And “spoofing” means sending false signals that mislead recipients.
This can have dramatic consequences for aircraft or trains. That's exactly why an independent European system is so important. If you rely exclusively on others, you relinquish a degree of control.
Help from outer space – really!
Galileo has a lot in common with rescue dogs: among other things, it has a special search-and-rescue service. Okay, maybe the technology behind it is a little more sophisticated than a sniffer dog, but I would never admit that publicly *woof*
When an emergency signal is triggered anywhere in the world, the system organizes help – directly via satellite. I think that's true teamwork. And as a dog, I know that good teams always save each other's noses when in doubt.
How does a satellite get into space?
Before a Galileo satellite is launched, it undergoes three quarters of a year to a year of preparation. Sometimes, several are launched at the same time. Up there, around 23,000 kilometers above the Earth, they then orbit for a lifetime of around twelve years.
Rockets are also launched in Kiruna in the far north. I have learned that Europe has many spaceport locations—even in remote outlying areas of the EU.
And when a satellite ages?
- Lower satellites are deliberately burned up.
- Higher satellites are moved even higher into a kind of “parking orbit.”
The only problem arises when a satellite can no longer be controlled—for example, due to a meteorite impact. In this case, special safety protocols and considerations come into play.
Europe between aspiration and reality
Galileo is considered one of the most accurate navigation systems in the world. And yet Europe sometimes makes itself smaller than it is.
With projects such as IRIS², Europe is trying to become more independent – a secure communications infrastructure in response to global developments. No, it won't be like the pace set by Elon Musk and his mega-constellations. But it is a strategic move.
And this is where politics comes into play: the European Commission provides impetus, the European Parliament approves the funds. Anyone who wants to strengthen European interests must also be represented there. In the best case scenario, European interests should take precedence over national sensitivities. Woof – that sounds like a dogged plan!
Major Carlos' conclusion
I am a dog. And with my keen sense of smell, I have detected the following:
- Regaining technological sovereignty is expensive – but worthwhile and necessary!
- Quality is a top priority in Europe – sometimes at the expense of speed. As is so often the case, a certain compromise could be more effective here.
- National interests must sometimes take a back seat to European goals.
Galileo shows what is possible when we all look in the same direction – or in my case, look up together. And especially when communication between multinational teams in different locations works smoothly.
Now, if you'll excuse me,
I urgently need to check whether satellites can also locate treats.
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