BEIJING – China launched twin BeiDou-3 navigation satellites into space ona single carrier rocket, Radio Pakistan reported.
The Long March-3B carrier rocket lifted off from the Xichang SatelliteLaunch Center at 10:07 p.m. It was the 285th mission of the Long Marchrocket series.
The twin satellites are the 37th and 38th editions of the BeiDou navigationsystem. After a series of tests and evaluations, they will work togetherwith 12 BeiDou-3 satellites already in orbit.
The twin satellites will provide danger alerts and navigation services forglobal users. A basic system with 18 orbiting BeiDou-3 satellites will bein place by the end of the year, which will serve countries participatingin the Belt and Road Initiative.
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The satellites and the rocket for Wednesday’s launch were developed by theChina Academy of Space Technology and the China Academy of Launch VehicleTechnology, respectively.
