News ID: 203859
Published: 0847 GMT November 06, 2017

China launches two BeiDou-3 navigation satellites on single carrier rocket

China launches two BeiDou-3 navigation satellites on single carrier rocket

China launched two BeiDou-3 satellites into space via a single carrier rocket to support its global navigation and positioning network at 7:45 p.m. Sunday.


This is the first two BeiDou-3 satellites launched by China, as its self-developed BeiDou Navigation Satellite System officially began to expand into a global network.

Named after the Chinese term for the plough or the Big Dipper constellation, the BeiDou project was formally initiated in 1994.


China plans to building BeiDou into a global positioning and navigation system by around 2020, making it the third country in the world after the US and Russia to operate its own navigation system.


Yang Changfeng, chief designer of the BeiDou system, said, "New technology has significantly improved the performance of the BeiDou-3, with the signal accuracy in space higher than half a meter while its positioning accuracy has reached 2.5 to five meters.”

China plans to launch 18 BeiDou-3 satellites around the end of 2018 to expand the BeiDou services to the countries along the Belt and Road routes.

By around 2020, when the system goes global, it will have more than 30 satellites.

Ye Chengmin, deputy chief designer of the Long March-3A carrier rocket, added, "Launches featuring two or more satellites on a single carrier rocket will be conducted regularly.”

Lin Yunan, head of the human resources department of the center, said, “All the BeiDou satellites currently in space were sent up from Xichang Satellite Launch Center.”

The BeiDou-3 satellites and the carrier rocket were developed by China Academy of Space Technology and China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, respectively.

Security Key:
Captcha refresh
Page Generated in 0/7816 sec