Published: 8:00pm, 20 Sep 2024Updated: 8:23pm, 20 Sep 2024
China has launched the last two satellites of its third-generation BeiDou navigation system, which will test new hardware and technology for the smarter and more accurate next generation of the system.
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The two satellites, built as backups by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, lifted off aboard a Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre at 9.14am on Thursday.
They join 30 other BeiDou-3 satellites in various orbits, including 24 in medium Earth orbits at an altitude of about 21,000km (13,050 miles), and six in geostationary and inclined geosynchronous orbits at 36,000km.
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China launches last piece of BeiDou Navigation Satellite system into orbit
China launches last piece of BeiDou Navigation Satellite system into orbit
According to Liu Yingchun, chief designer of the BeiDou-3 system, most of the BeiDou-3 satellites have been operational for six years. The newly launched pair will allow for the system to keep operating while older satellites are maintained and managed.
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Equipped with upgraded atomic clock parts and new inter-satellite link terminals, they will also test core technologies for the next-generation BeiDou-4 navigation satellites, Liu told state broadcaster CCTV.