In global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) a fundamental operational component is the calculation of the orbits of the system spacecraft. This requires understanding and modelling the forces that act on the spacecraft. Solar radiation pressure (SRP) is the force caused by the impact of solar photons on the spacecraft surface. For GNSS spacecraft this is a significant force. If SRP is not included in the force model, then the calculated position of the spacecraft can be in error by between one and two hundred metres after one 12-hour orbit. SRP can be modelled using either analytical or empirical methods, or by some combination of the two. Historically, analytical SRP modelling has been somewhat neglected and high precision orbit estimation has relied upon empirical methods to account for SRP. Even so, most of these empirical methods start the estimation process with an a priori analytical model. The success of this empirical approach relies upon having many observations of the range between the system spacecraft and ground-based tracking stations, and works well within the context of the International Global Positioning System Service (IGS) network, which provides the necessary data volume. However, empirical methods do not work as well in operational GNSS, as these typically have a relatively small number of tracking stations. Moreover, empirical methods cannot be applied at the GNSS design stage, where knowledge of the system dynamics plays a key role. Existing methods for calculating analytical SRP models can only be used with relatively simple spacecraft structures, and lack flexibility as tools for analysis. In this study a new method is developed for calculating analytical SRP models that can cope with a high level of complexity in the spacecraft structure. The method is based upon simulating the solar photon flux with a pixel array. Using the method, models are calculated and tested for the Russian GLONASS IIv spacecraft. This particular spacecraft was used as the testbed because, at the time the study was being conducted, an international scientific campaign - called IGEX-98, the International GLONASS Experiment - was being carried out to analyse the Russian system. Developing force models for the spacecraft was one of the campaign goals, and the IGEX-98 steering committee accepted a proposal to use SRP models for GLONASS from this study. A detailed description is given of all the mathematics and physics that was used to develop the modelling technique. The method by which the models can be calculated and applied in practical orbit determination is also provided. In order to test the performance of the SRP models computed for the GLONASS spacecraft using the new method, comparisons were made between two kinds of trajectory. The first kind was calculated by numerical integration of the spacecraft's second order differential equation of motion, where this force model included the custom SRP models developed in the thesis. The second kind of trajectory, which is used as a 'truth' model in the study, was a precise orbit computed by the University of Berne using IGS range data and an empirical SRP model. Such precise orbits are the best estimates available of the true trajectories, as they are derived from the simultaneous estimation of multiple receiver tracking station network positions and spacecraft force model parameters. The repeatability of the Berne orbit is circa 0.75m. The RMS differences between the two trajectories over one twelve-hour orbit (an arc length of circa 160,000km) were 0.7m in height, 1.3m across track and 3.5m along track. This shows that the trajectory derived from the force model alone is very close to the precise orbit. The time-varying pattern of the differences between the two trajectories strongly indicates that the residual mismodelling of the forces acting on the spacecraft is due to thermal re-radiation effects. Further tests of the method were also conducted using satellite laser ranging (SLR) data to calculate arc lengths of 400 days, again using SRP models from the study. This enabled the calculation of model scale factors and additional empirical terms. The average SRP model scale factor was circa 1.01, which implies that the average error in the a priori SRP models calculated for the GLONASS IIv spacecraft is at the 1% level. This is consistent with an error budget based on an assessment of the accuracy of the source data supplied by the Russian authorities. The magnitude and parameterisation of the SLR empirical terms again strongly suggest that most of the remaining mis-modelling is caused by thermal effects. An analysis is given of the effect on the a priori SRP model of unmodelled, SRP-related forces acting along the spacecraft Y-axis. This is the so-called Y-bias. It is shown that whilst Y-bias effects are important in orbit determination, they are less critical in the process of calculating the a priori SRP model. A discussion is provided on how the new method can be adapted to improve the modelling and understanding of thermal re-radiation and Y-bias effects, and also on what benefits might accrue from such studies. The new method is an improvement over existing techniques as it enables the calculation of high precision SRP models that can be applied in the design, operation and scientific analysis of GNSS. A UK patent application has been made in respect of the new method.

The Iridium satellite system as proposed by Motorola, Inc. provides continuous global communications coverage by supplementing prevailing telephone services. The satellite system is comprised of 66 Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellites which are able to accommodate Iridium handsets or existing telephone links. These satellites are monitored and controlled by ground control facilities for approximately 6 years ( the estimated life of the vehicles) and are then replaced. The ground control facilities are required to provide software upgrades, monitor the health of the vehicles, remove a satellite from the constellation when necessary, and coordinate launch and deorbit of the satellites. The approach used to code and modulate the telemetry processed by the ground stations is analyzed in order to develop support software for a recommended data network configuration used at the ground stations. A Reed-Solomon coding scheme is prepared for the telemetry channel since this coding scheme corrects bit errors and protects against burst errors. The Groupe Speciale Mobile (GSM), a combination of time division mUltiple access, TDMA, and frequency division multiple access, FDMA, is recommended for use by Iridium. A bus topology with a fiber backbone is suggested to support the operations at each facility and a separate landline is considered to support operations between the facilities when possible. The support software is available in the appendix and is written in Fortran 77. A data security coding algorithm is introduced; however, this is not a requirement or a concern for Motorola and is an option that may be considered by the ground facilities. The data security for a commercial satellite system is considered insignificant at this time. / Master of Science

This thesis argues for the use of what I term `poetic methods' in approaching the study of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) infrastructures. Poetic methods frame research experiments with techniques drawn from art practice and build understandings of an infrastructure's actions, or the \texture" [1] of those actions by leveraging symbol and metaphor. This work is situated in an interdisciplinary space across Human Computer Interaction (HCI), art, design and the study of Science, Technology and Society (STS). The theoretical grounding of the work draws on Actor Network Theory (ANT) and Karen Barad's intra-activity [2] to emphasise sociotechnical practices and objects as emergent across combinations of material agency. From Bowker and Star's concept of infrastructural inversion [1], I argue that infrastructures become visible through points of breakdown. To probe GNSS infrastructure, I stage an experiment where its smooth operation is disrupted. Re-framing the infrastructure in this way draws participant's attention to its influence in forming practices. I then use a second method of short form speculative design [3] workshops to have participants think about scenarios where the user is pushed further into the background and user and infrastructure are understood as nodes in `more-than-human-networks'. Alongside this participant-facing research work, I give an account of artworks that developed from my own practice in response to the research questions. These are understood as deep responses to the design workshops' prompt to re-think how we understand the actions, influence and ontology of GNSS infrastructures. At the end of this art and research process I have a finished artwork and several sets of rich qualitative data. I use these to understand how effective my techniques are in achieving infrastructural inversion, diagnostically understanding the actions of GNSS infrastructure and the texture of how those actions are felt by participants, and interrogating ontological questions around concepts of `user' and `infrastructure'. I argue that the poetic methods offer an innovative set of techniques that can be added to a wider research project to help interrogate blackboxing, practically achieve infrastructural inversion and begin to move towards ontological critique. These offer a new methodological tool to STS researchers and contribute to HCI debates around non- user-centered design practices. I offer some suggestions for further refinements to these techniques and point towards some possible future work.

Τα συστήματα κινητής τηλεφωνίας απαιτούν οι κινητές συσκευές να βρίσκονται στην περιοχή κάλυψης ενός σταθμού βάσης για να μπορεί να διεξαχθεί επικοινωνία. Τι συμβαίνει όμως όταν ένα κινητό τερματικό βρεθεί σε περιοχή που δεν καλύπτεται από σταθμό βάσης; Αυτό μπορεί να συμβεί είτε σε περίπτωση που η περιοχή είναι απομονωμένη ώστε να μη έχει καταστεί συμφέρον να αναπτυχθεί υποδομή κινητής επικοινωνίας, είτε αν βρίσκεται στην επικράτεια υποανάπτυκτης χώρας όπου οι υποδομές είναι απαρχαιωμένες ή ανύπαρκτες, είτε οι υποδομές της περιοχής έχουν καταστραφεί ή καταστεί πρακτικά μη λειτουργικές λόγω απρόσμενων συμβάντων (πόλεμοι, σεισμοί, παλίρροιες, κλπ). Τα κινητά συστήματα δορυφορικών επικοινωνιών αναπτύχθηκαν ακριβώς για να παρέχουν αξιόπιστες υπηρεσίες επικοινωνιών «παντού και πάντοτε». Ειδικά, την δεκαετία 1990 που άρχισε η ευρεία χρήση κινητών επικοινωνιών, αντιμετωπίστηκε το αρχικά το πρόβλημα περιορισμένης κάλυψης λόγω μη επαρκούς επίγειας υποδομής. Η ιδέα ήταν να εξυπηρετούνται οι συνδρομητές από δορυφόρους αντί σταθμών βάσης, οι οποίοι θα παρείχαν παγκόσμια κάλυψη και θα παρέμειναν ανεπηρέαστοι από τις εξελίξεις στην Γη. Συνεπώς, δεν θα απαιτούνταν πρόσθετες υποδομές για κάλυψη περιοχών αλλά οι αρχικοί αστερισμοί δορυφόρων να παρείχαν αδιάκοπη κάλυψη. Ωστόσο λόγω της υψηλής χρέωσης δορυφορικής επικοινωνίας, της αδυναμίας παροχής εξαρχής των διαφημιζόμενων υπηρεσιών και του ανταγωνισμού από τα επίγεια συστήματα κινητής τηλεφωνίας, κάποια από τα δορυφορικά κινητά συστήματα (Iridium, Globalstar) οδηγήθηκαν σε χρεωκοπία στις αρχές της δεκαετίας 2000. Τα συστήματα αυτά εξαγοράστηκαν και ανασυστάθηκαν, και εξυπηρετούν εκατοντάδες χιλιάδων συνδρομητών, ενώ ετοιμάζονται για την εκτόξευση νέας γενεάς δορυφόρων. Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία πραγματεύεται τις τεχνικές διαφορικής λήψης στα συστήματα κινητών δορυφορικών επικοινωνιών και γίνεται προσομοίωση της διαφορικής λήψης σήματος δορυφόρου από πλευράς χρήστη. Για να καταστούν όμως σαφέστερες στον χρήστη οι τεχνικές αυτές, προηγείται επισκόπηση των αρχών επικοινωνίας και της αρχιτεκτονικής των συστημάτων αυτών, ενώ μελετώνται και τεχνικές επεξεργασίας που εφαρμόζονται στο κινητό δορυφορικό σήμα. Συγκεκριμένα, στο Κεφάλαιο 1, αναφέρονται οι αρχές κινητών δορυφορικών επικοινωνιών, δηλαδή η συχνότητες επικοινωνίας, οι τροχιές των δορυφόρων, τα φαινόμενα διάδοσης στο ασύρματο δορυφορικό μονοπάτι, η κάλυψη των δορυφόρων κινητών επικοινωνιών, οι δορυφορικές ζεύξεις και οι τεχνικές μεταπομπής του κινητού σήματος. Στο Κεφάλαιο 2, αναλύεται η αρχιτεκτονική των δορυφορικών συστημάτων κινητών επικοινωνιών, δηλαδή όλες οι συνιστώσες διαστήματος και εδάφους από τις οποίες απαρτίζεται ένα δορυφορικό σύστημα που επιτελεί υπηρεσίες κινητών επικοινωνιών. Έμφαση δίνεται στα υποσυστήματα του τηλεπικοινωνιακού δορυφόρου που αποτελεί την κεντρική συνιστώσα κάθε δορυφορικού συστήματος. Γίνεται αναφορά και στην επίγεια υποδομή που παρέχει υποστήριξη στους δορυφόρους και διασύνδεση με τα άλλα δίκτυα επικοινωνιών. Ακολουθεί περιγραφή της αρχιτεκτονικής των δύο πιο δημοφιλών δορυφορικών συστημάτων υπηρεσιών κινητών επικοινωνιών, Iridium και Globalstar. Πλέον όλα τα σήματα κινητών επικοινωνιών είναι ψηφιακά, καθότι η ψηφιακή τεχνολογία προσφέρει πολλά πλεονεκτήματα έναντι της αναλογικής. Στο Κεφάλαιο 3, αναλύονται οι ψηφιακές τεχνικές που εφαρμόζονται στο δορυφορικό σήμα κινητών επικοινωνιών ακολουθώντας όλα τα στάδια από την ψηφιοποίηση του αναλογικού σήματος που παράγεται από τον ομιλητή, τις διάφορες μορφές κωδικοποίησης, πολυπλεξίας, διαμόρφωσης και τέλος, πολλαπλής πρόσβασης στον δορυφορικό αναμεταδότη. Το Κεφάλαιο 4 μπαίνει στην καρδιά της διπλωματικής εργασίας, δηλαδή τις τεχνικές διαφορισμού. Αναφέρονται γενικά οι τεχνικές διαφορισμού πομπού και δέκτη, και ο δέκτης RAKE για διαφορική λήψη κινητού τηλεφώνου. Επιπλέον αναλύονται οι διαδικασίες διαφορισμού που λαμβάνουν χώρα σε όλο το εύρος ενός δορυφορικού συστήματος κατά την διεξαγωγή κλήσης, που εμπλέκουν δύο ή περισσότερες πύλες και δύο ή περισσότερους δορυφόρους. Τέλος, στο Κεφάλαιο 5, γίνεται προσομοίωση της διαφορικής λήψης τηλεφωνικού σήματος CDMA που εκπέμπεται από πολλαπλούς δορυφόρους που βρίσκονται εντός του οπτικού πεδίου ενός δορυφορικού τηλεφώνου. Τα σήματα των δορυφόρων λαμβάνονται από τον δέκτη RAKE του τηλεφώνου και συνδυάζονται σε ένα συνεκτικό σήμα με κάποια τεχνική συνδυασμού. Βάσει των αποτελεσμάτων των προσομοιώσεων θα αξιολογηθεί η ποιότητα του λαμβανόμενου σήματος για κάθε πρόσθετο δορυφόρο και για κάθε τεχνική συνδυασμού διαφορισμού. / The mobile satellite systems were developed with the ambitious goal to provide reliable service “anywhere, anytime”. Whereas the cellular mobile systems depend on ground infrastructure in order to be operational, the mobile satellite systems indeed can still work even where ground infrastructure is inadequate or destroyed by unexpected events such as earthquakes, tides or wars. The concept of mobile satellite systems is that mobile satellite phones communicate directly with a fleet of dozens of satellites just like cell phones communicate with base stations. In such a way, communication can be delivered uninterrupted by events on Earth, as well as the need for additional ground infrastructure can be bypassed. However, due to high satellite service charges, inability to provide the advertised services and high competition from terrestrial cellular systems some of mobile satellite systems (Iridium, Globalstar) fell into bankruptcy in early 2000s. These systems were taken over and reestablished and are currently serving hundreds of thousands customers, while been prepared to launch a new generation of satellites. The purpose of the present diploma thesis is to study the reception techniques in the mobile satellite systems. Eventually, the diversity reception is simulated for the case of a satellite phone receiving signal from four LEO satellites, inspired by the Globalstar system. In order that the function of a MSS can be understood, before the presentation of the simulation, the principles of mobile satellite communications are presented, following the architecture of an MSS and the digital signal techniques that are utilized in mobile satellite communications. Specifically, in Chapter 1 the principles of mobile satellite communications are reviewed. We start with the types of mobile satellite services and frequency allocation. Then the communications satellites orbits are mentioned with emphasis to the advantages and disadvantages of each orbit that determines its utilization in satellite communications. We proceed with the mobile satellite links, the coverage of a LEO satellite and the handover techniques that are necessary in order to guarantee uninterrupted connection and seamless switching during a call. In Chapter 2, the architecture of a mobile satellite system is analyzed, i.e. the components of which a mobile satellite system is comprised. At first, we will take an insight in the structure and the various systems of a communications satellite. In addition, we will see the structure of the ground segment that supports the satellites and the user segment. Additionally the Iridium and Globalstar are presented that follow totally opposite philosophies in all implementation and function aspects. Digital technology has managed to prevail over its analog counterpart in most satellite communications thanks to its inherent advantages. The most common digital signal techniques will be reviewed in Chapter 3 concerning the MSS. Specifically, source coding, channel coding, line coding, modulation, multiplexing, multiple access, pulse shaping, and equalization techniques are taken into account since all these techniques are implemented in almost every wireless digital communication, rendering the digital signal resistant to wireless channel impairments as well as bandwidth effective. In Chapter 4, diversity analysis takes place. Diversity is a technique whereby multiple replicas of a signal are sent over a wireless channel so as to mitigate fading. We will see the various diversity techniques along with the diversity combining techniques which are used to finally combine the received signals into a single coherent signal. Furthermore, a reader will learn about some diversity techniques used in mobile satellite systems involving multiple satellites and gateways during call establishment and routing. Finally, the knowledge acquired from the previous chapters will help understand the process of diversity reception in the case of a satellite phone. In Chapter 5, the signal reception by a satellite phone from four LEO satellites is simulated by use of the Matlab programming tool. Every satellite is presumed to transmit a replica of the same signal based on the CDMA spread spectrum technique whereas the signals arrive at the phone following different paths (path diversity). Hence the received signal is comprised of four multipath components arriving at the receiver at different times. The satellite phone includes a RAKE receiver which is composed of four fingers or braches each synchronized to a multipath component. The RAKE receiver combines the multipath components using each of the SC, EGC and MRC techniques. Conclusively, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and energy per bit to noise power spectral density ratio (Eb/N0) are measured as a function of the number of RAKE receiver fingers and the combining technique. The simulation results will denote the importance of diversity in the quality of the received signal in a multipath environment as well as the efficiency of each of the combining techniques.

Global Navigational Satellite Systems (GNNS,) of which the Global Positioning System (GPS) of the United States is the most widely used, is increasingly being used by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) for navigation and positional data. However, the SANDF can only use civilian type GPS receivers, which make use of the Standard Positioning Serves (SPS) and not the encrypted Precise Positioning Service (PPS), which is only available to the United States military forces and its allies. The aim of this work is to understand the influences that impact on the use of a GPS and specifically the capabilities of civilian type GPS receivers. The first objective will be to propose and motivate the use of a standardised reference frame that can be used by the SANDF for positional data in general and for GPS measurements specifically. In this regard it is proposed that the SANDF standardises on the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84) as the standard ellipsoid and also use it as a universal horizontal datum for mapping projects. For survey tasks WGS 84 can be used in combination with a selected International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) epoch for reference stations. The International GNNS Service (IGS) stations can be used as such reference stations; the geometric distribution can be improved as the African Reference Frame (AFREF) add more stations to the existing IGS network. In the absence of a common vertical datum it is suggested that the Earth Gravitational Model 2008 (EGM 2008) be used. Secondly, the use of GPS for positional data should be aligned with the required positional accuracy requirements and standards of the SANDF. In this regard it is suggested that international positional accuracy standards are accepted and implemented to ensure interoperability. The third objective is to describe and understand how to mitigate influences that impact on the reliability of GPS. This is specifically important with the use of low accuracy civilian type GPS receivers for navigation and the collection of ground control for mapping projects. The fourth objective will be to establish with practical field trials the effect of these influences on GPS measurements and device appropriate data collection strategies. One serious impact is the susceptibility of civilian GPS receivers to jamming. This is addressed but not sufficiently to formulate policy and would require further investigation. There is a worldwide drive to make GPS reliable for safety of life applications such as air and rail transport which also benefits its use for military applications. It is therefore important for the SANDF users to know and understand these influences on GPS in order to optimise its use for operations. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / MSc / Unrestricted

Tethered satellite systems (TSS) can be utilized for a wide range of space-based applications, such as satellite formation control and propellantless orbital maneuvering by means of momentum transfer and electrodynamic thrusting. A TSS is a complicated physical system operating in a continuously varying physical environment, so most research on TSS dynamics and control makes use of simplified system models to make predictions about the behavior of the system. In spite of this fact, little effort is ever made to validate the predictions made by these simplified models. In an ideal situation, experimental data would be used to validate the predictions made by simplified TSS models. Unfortunately, adequate experimental data on TSS dynamics and control is not readily available at this time, so some other means of validation must be employed. In this work, we present a validation procedure based on the creation of a top-level computational model, the predictions of which are used in place of experimental data. The validity of all predictions made by lower-level computational models is assessed by comparing them to predictions made by the top-level computational model. In addition to the proposed validation procedure, a top-level TSS computational model is developed and rigorously verified. A lower-level TSS model is used to study the dynamics of the tether in a spinning TSS. Floquet theory is used to show that the lower-level model predicts that the pendular motion and transverse elastic vibrations of the tether are unstable for certain in-plane spin rates and system mass properties. Approximate solutions for the out-of-plane pendular motion are also derived for the case of high in-plane spin rates. The lower-level system model is also used to derive control laws for the pendular motion of the tether. Several different nonlinear control design techniques are used to derive the control laws, including methods that can account for the effects of dynamics not accounted for by the lower-level model. All of the results obtained using the lower-level system model are compared to predictions made by the top-level computational model to assess their validity and applicability to an actual TSS. / Ph. D.

In Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), specifically in autonomous driving operations, accurate vehicle localization is essential for safe operations. The localization accuracy depends on both position and positioning error estimates. Technologies aiming to improve positioning error estimation are required and are currently being researched. This project has investigated machine learning algorithms applied to positioning error estimation by assessing relevant information obtained from a GNSS receiver and adding environmental information  coming from a camera mounted on a radio controlled vehicle testing platform. The research was done in two stages. The first stage consists of the machine learning algorithms training and testing on existing GNSS data coming from Waysure´s data base from tests ran in 2016, which did not consider the environment surrounding the GNSS receiver used during the tests. The second stage consists of the machine learning algorithms training and testing on GNSS data coming from new test runs carried on May 2019, which include the environment surrounding the GNSS receiver used. The results of both stages are compared. The relevant features are obtained as a result of the machine learning decision trees algorithm and are presented. This report concludes that there is no statistical evidence indicating that the tested environmental input from the camera could improve positioning error estimation accuracy with the built machine learning models. / Inom Intelligenta transportsystem (ITS), specifikt för självkörande fordon, så är en exakt fordonspositionering en nödvändighet för ökad trafiksäkerhet. Positionsnoggrannheten beror på estimering av både positionen samt positionsfelet. Olika tekniker och tillämpningar som siktar på att förbättra positionsfeluppskattningen behövs, vilket det nu forskas kring. Denna uppsats undersöker olika maskininlärningsalgoritmer inriktade på estimering av positionsfel. Algoritmerna utvärderar relevant information från en GNSS-mottagare, samt information från en kamera om den kringliggande miljön. En GNSS-mottagare och kamera monterades på en radiostyrd mobil testplattform för insamling av data.  Examensarbetet består av två delar. Första delen innehåller träning och testning av valda maskininlärningsalgoritmer med GNSS-data tillhandahållen av Waysure från tester gjorda under 2016. Denna data inkluderar ingen information från den omkringliggande miljön runt GNSS-mottagaren. Andra delen består av träning och testning av valda maskininlärningsalgoritmer på GNSS-data som kommer från nya tester gjorda under maj 2019, vilka inkluderar miljöinformation runt GNSS-mottagaren. Resultaten från båda delar analyseras. De viktigaste egenskaper som erhålls från en trädbaserad modell, algoritmens beslutsträd, presenteras. Slutsatsen från denna rapport är att det inte går att statistiskt säkerställa att inkludering av information från den omkringliggande miljön från en kamera förbättrar noggrannheten vid estimering av positionsfelet med de valda maskininlärningsmodellerna.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / The development of regional ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC) models has contributed to understanding the behavior of ionospheric parameters and the coupling of the ionosphere to space weather activities on both local and global scales. In the past several decades, the International Global Navigation Satellite Systems Service (GNSS) networks of dual frequency receiver data have been applied to develop global and regional models of ionospheric TEC. These models were mainly developed in the Northern Hemisphere where there are dense network of ground based GPS receivers for regional data coverage. Such efforts have been historically rare over the African region, and have only recently begun. This thesis reports the investigation of the effect of mid-latitude magnetic storms on TEC over South Africa for portions of Solar Cycles 23 and 24. The MAGIC package was used to estimate TEC over South Africa during Post Solar Maximum, Solar Minimum, and Post Solar Minimum periods. It is found that TEC is largely determined by the diurnal cycle of solar forcing and subsequent relaxation, but effects due to storms can be determined

Master’s thesis deals with global navigation satellite systems. It gathers information about operation principles of individual systems and evaluates their applicability for Air transportation through own measures.

This diploma thesis applies the well-established concept of security dilemma to the relatively new domain of outer space. It constructs a comprehensive modification of the concept for the outer space - the space security dilemma - and establishes criteria for the assessment of it while also discussing previous approaches. The thesis then applies this concept and established criteria, to the issue of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). More specifically, it focuses on the case of the European GNSS called Galileo and assesses the intentions behind its creation. Through this assessment, the thesis focuses on determining whether the European Union became a space security dilemma initiator by the development of the Galileo system. In order to confront the theoretical conclusions with praxis, the thesis then focuses on the case of the United States of America and the confrontation between GPS and Galileo. In its last chapter, the thesis replicates this approach on the cases of the Russian Federation (and its GLONASS) and the People's Republic of China (and its BeiDou/COMPASS).