Leopold Summerer, head of ESA’s Advanced Concepts Team, explains how their work exploring the future of space activities can sometimes have surprisingly rapid payoffs. <br /> <br />Apparently theoretical research into applying Einsteinian relativity theory to satellite positioning systems like GPS and Europe’s own Galileo system ended up having practical value. <br /> <br />When Europe’s fifth and sixth Galileo satellites were launched into incorrect, elongated orbits in 2014, the team worked with ESA’s Navigation Directorate to design a method of using these satellites to test one of Einstein’s predictions more rigorously than ever before. <br /> <br />For more information, read Leopold’s interview: <br />http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Engineering_Technology/Talking_technology/Introducing_Galileo_to_Einstein <br /> <br />This video is the first in a series of videos highlighting the innovative technology being developed within the European Space Agency. <br /> <br />Read more on the Talking technology website: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Engineering_Technology/Talking_technology
