BEIJING – China launched a new satellite of the BeiDou Navigation SatelliteSystem (BDS) on Monday evening, local media reported.
The satellite, launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center insouthwestern Sichuan Province, was sent into a geostationary orbit througha Long March-3B carrier rocket, according to state-run Xinhua news agency.
Integrated with functions of navigation and communication, the satellitewill provide services for the driverless vehicles, accurate berthing ofships, as well as takeoff and landing of airplanes.
Developed by China Academy of Space Technology, the satellite, according toXinhua, “was only one step away from completing the whole global system”.
Laced with scientific evidence, “Global Systems” aims to provide means toengage into a reflective dialogue to support policy-making and publicaction and to enable civil society to collectively engage in societalaction in response to global challenges like climate change, urbanization,or social inclusion.
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It was in early 1990s that China started to build its navigation systemwhich began to serve the Asia-Pacific Region in 2012.
A total of 54 BDS-2 and BDS-3 satellites have been sent into space.
Beijing is scheduled to complete construction of the BDS constellation inMay and provide high-precision, reliable positioning, navigation and timingservices anywhere in the world, the news agency said. – Xinhua
