China has sent a new Beidou navigation satellite into space from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in south-west Sichuan Province.
Lifted off by a Long March-3A rocket, the satellite is the 32nd unit of the navigation systems line and forms a part of the Beidou-2 family of the satellites.
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Beidou-2 satellites represent the second generation of satellites used in the Beidou navigation series. Satellites are equipped with improved rubidium clocks developed by China to provide accurate positioning and timing data of the Earth.
The newly launched satellite will replace one of the existing Beidou-2 satellites that is about to end live.
Beidou-2 series chief designer Yang Hui was quoted by Xinhua as saying: “The launch of a backup Beidou-2 satellite will ensure the system’s continuous and stable operation.”
Last year, China began development of the third-generation Beidou system, and has so far deployed eight Beidou-3 satellites into orbit.
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By GlobalDataThe Beidou system is developed to compete with its rivals from the US’ GPS system, Russia’s GLONASS and the European Union’s Galileo satellite navigation system.
Launched in 1994, the system began providing navigation and positioning services to China in 2000 and to the Asia-Pacific region in 2012.
The system is expected to provide services to countries situated along the Belt and Road later this year and to the global audience by around 2020.
In a separate development, China has launched the PRSS-1 and PakTES-1A satellites into space from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC).
The launch was conducted onboard a Long March-2C rocket on behalf of Pakistan.
Development of the PRSS-1 remote sensing satellite is based on a contract signed between China Great Wall Industry (CGWIC) and Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) in April 2016.
The PakTES-1A satellite was designed and built by SUPARCO.
