China launches navigation satellite: Xinhua

China launched its ninth navigation satellite on Wednesday, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing sources at the launch centre.

A rocket carrying the "Beidou", or Compass, orbiter blasted off from the Xichang Satellite Launching Centre in southwestern Sichuan Province at 5:44 am (2144 Tuesday GMT), it said.

The satellite is one of 35 that China is putting into orbit to form the Beidou navigation system, a completely developed by Chinese technology, Xinhua said.

China started building its to break its dependence on the US Global Positioning System (GPS) in 2000.

The network is expected to provide global services by 2020, the report said.

(c) 2011 AFP

Citation: China launches navigation satellite: Xinhua (2011, July 27) retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2011-07-china-satellite-xinhua.html
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