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 BeidouChina launched the fifth satellite of its Beidou (Compass) Global Navigation Satellite System on 14 April, according to a news report on Chinese state media. The launch adds credibility to previously announced plans by Chinese authorities to develop a practical GNSS. The satellite was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in the southwest Sichuan province, the Xinhua news agency said. Previous satellites were launched in 2000, 2001 and 2002. The fourth satellite was launched on 3 February this year. The increased frequency of launches may indicate improved Chinese confidence in the system. This view is supported by the report in Xinhua, which reflects official government policy. That report described B-5 as a production satellite, differentiating it from earlier 'experimental' vehicles. Previous official publications in China have described Beidou as a 35 satellite constellation. It will have five geostationary satellites and 30 medium orbit satellites. It will deliver better than 10 metre accuracy. It appears that the plan is to place successive satellites into orbits that will cover China and its neighbouring countries by 2008. The system would be expanded into a global network between 2010 and 2012. The satellite was developed by China's Academy of Space Technology. The Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology developed the carrier rocket. Both come under the authority of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The country's plans for its satellite navigation system have been a matter of secrecy. This may be because the Chinese position on the system is still evolving. Authorities in China appear to have seriously toyed with the idea of being involved in the Galileo system. Moreover, Chinese officials have yet not reserved orbital slots or radio spectrum for such satellites. This is an indication that a global expansion of Beidou may still be at least a decade away. Nor have the Chinese released specifications for the system that would allow the design of commercial receivers. For the moment, China remains a strong market for GPS equipment. That may change, however, perhaps sooner than people expect. Previous | Top | Next | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(This page last modified on 11 May 2007)
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