China launches two navigation satellites

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Beijing, April 30, 2012

China on Monday successfully launched two more satellites for its proposed Beidou global navigation and positioning network being built to counter the US Global Position System (GPS).

With the two, China has so far launched 13 satellites to form part of the Beidou system.

The Beidou-2 satellites, launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in the south-western province of Sichuan, was boosted by a Long March-3B carrier rocket and has entered the scheduled orbit, the centre said in a statement.

It is the first time China has launched two navigation satellites with one rocket, and the two satellites will help to improve the accuracy of the Beidou, or Compass system, it said.

China will launch three more satellites for the Beidou network this year and a global satellite positioning and navigation system will be completed in 2020 with more than 30 orbiters, it said.

Monday's mission marked the 160th flight of China's Long March series of carrier rockets, state-run Xinhua reported.

The Hindu : News / International : China launches two navigation satellites

 

[utubekhiladi]

how accurate is this system compared to GPS

 

[cir]

 

[charlyondfi]

The Beidou-2 satellites, launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in the south-western province of Sichuan, was boosted by a Long March-3B carrier rocket and has entered the scheduled orbit, the centre said in a statement.

March-3B (長征三乙) carry ~5000kg maximum, right? But every Beidou-2 satellite weights more than 3500kg. Does that mean China is making progress on thrust power of March3B? Or it's China had make Beidou-2 lighter? Any idea?

 

[CherrywoodHunter]

duplicate post, deleted

 

[CherrywoodHunter]

March-3B (長征三乙) carry ~5000kg maximum, right? But every Beidou-2 satellite weights more than 3500kg. Does that mean China is making progress on thrust power of March3B? Or it's China had make Beidou-2 lighter? Any idea?

Unlike Beidou-2 GEO satellites, Beidou-2 MEO satellites do not bear communication and Beidou-1 back-compatible payloads.

 

[Armand2REP]

So where can I buy Beidou recievers?

 

[huaxia rox]

at the beginning beidou is for military users only....u do stuff step by step.....

and when u can buy a reciver?? has to be before my indian friends can send their 1st GPS satellite into the space.....

 

[sayareakd]

we are using gps signals, plus russian satellite and our own is round the corner.

 

[CherrywoodHunter]

So where can I buy Beidou recievers?

so, congratulations to india?