原作：Wes Carleton

    在2005年12月28日，欧洲空间代理处发射了它将来伽利略导航系统的第一颗测试卫星。三年之前，在圣诞节，俄国发射了三颗卫星加入它的早先14颗卫星的GLONASS导航网络, 已经在轨道中和环绕地球。

    同时，美国国防部官员正在明确关心是否他们的全球定位系统（GPS），尽管完全操作，能够在计划目标中没有主要技术升级和替换下可以保持竞争。

    美国关心有关国外导航系统的事情是可以理解的。在过去的四分之一世纪以来，全球定位系统是，和一直是，一个非常强大的军事力量倍增器带给美国和它的盟友唯一的优势。

    但是那有越来越多的忧虑在高级的美国军用级别，关于民用团体对GPS令人惊愕的反应。并且在方式上它已经变成许多国家的民用基础结构和他们的军事力量一个几乎必要的部分，友好地和不友好地两者。

    一般估计2015年在那里全世界可能多达四亿个全球定位系统使用者。结果，收回民用的全球定位系统信号，虽然曾经预期在紧张时期，除了在极端地可怕的环境中之外会立刻在国际性政治上无法接受。

    附原文供对照参考：

US frets over satellite lead

By Wes Carleton

On 28 December 2005, the European Space Agency launched the first test satellite of its future Galileo navigation system. Three days earlier, on Christmas Day, Russia launched three satellites to join the previous 14 of its GLONASS navigation network, already in orbit and circling the globe.

Meanwhile, US Department of Defense officials were expressing concern about whether their Global Positioning System (GPS), although fully operational, could remain competitive without major technology upgrades and changes in programme objectives.

US concerns about foreign navigation satellite systems are understandable. Over the past quarter century, GPS has been, and still is, a very powerful military force multiplier that has brought unique advantage to the US and its allies. But there is increasing disquiet in senior US military ranks about the staggering response of the civil community towards GPS, and the way it has become an almost essential part of the national civil infrastructure of many countries and their military forces, both friendly and unfriendly. It is estimated that by 2015 there could be as many as 400 million GPS users around the world. As a result, withdrawal of civil GPS signals, while once contemplated in times of tension, would now be politically unacceptable internationally other than in extremely dire circumstances.

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