China successfully launched the fifth New-Generation BeiDou Navigation Satellite
At Beijing time 15:29, February 1st, China successfully sent a BeiDou Navigation Satellite to orbit by carrier rocket Long March-3C from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.
This is the fifth new-generation BeiDou navigation satellite and China’s 21st BeiDou satellite, which will work in the middle earth orbit. The satellite will use a new specialized platform for navigation satellites, adopting many new technologies in aspects of inter-satellite links, satellite-borne atomic clock, downlink navigation signal an so on.
The latest satellite will join the earlier launched four new-generation satellites and be tasked with testing a new type of navigation signaling and inter-satellite links, and will timely access the network and provide service.
BeiDou Navigation Satellite System is abbreviated as BeiDou, which is China’s independently constructed and operated system. It can be compatible with other GNSS system in the world, and provide all-time, all-weather PNT services with high accuracy and high reliability for all kinds of users. It can also provide short-message service.
BeiDou Navigation Satellite system has operated stably since it officially provided regional services at the end of 2012. Its performance index has improved substantially. The accuracy of the system is within the range of 10 meters, and in some regions, the accuracy is even better. According to the global networking construction plan of BeiDou, it will first provide basic services for countries along the "One Belt and One Road" region by 2018, while by 2020 achieves the capability to provide global service and becomes a world-leading navigation satellite system.
The new satellite was jointly developed by the Shanghai Engineering Centre for Microsatellites by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the China Electronic Technology Corporation (CETC). The carrier rocket is developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, which belongs to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. This is the 224th flight of the Long March carrier rocket.