The European Space Agency has released the technical details of the signals transmitted by the first Galileo test satellite, allowing receiver manufacturers and research institutions to use a real signal for research and development, the agency announced March 2.

The Galileo In Orbit Validation Elements-A (GIOVE-A) test satellite, built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., began transmitting signals in January 2006. The signal was validated using a network of 13 Galileo Experimental Sensor Stations deployed around the globe and a GIOVE Processing Center which computes orbits and clock timings for the satellites based on the measurements made by the ground network and satellite laser ranging stations.

The Giove-A Signal-in-Space Interface Control Document will allow any user to build a receiver able to track the signals, interpret the navigation message and compute the distance between the satellite and the receiver.