China launches sixth orbiter for its own GPS
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China early Monday morning successfully launched its sixth orbiter which will form part of its indigenous satellite-navigation and -positioning network.
![Long March 3C rocket carrying China's 6th Beidou navigation satellite lifts off from the launch pad at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, at 00:26 (Beijing time) on Nov. 1, 2010. [CFP]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20101101/0019b93bd68d0e3869d804.jpg "Long March 3C rocket carrying China's 6th Beidou navigation satellite lifts off from the launch pad at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, at 00:26 (Beijing time) on Nov. 1, 2010. [CFP]") |
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Long March 3C rocket carrying China's 6th Beidou navigation satellite lifts off from the launch pad at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, at 00:26 (Beijing time) on Nov. 1, 2010. [CFP]Long March 3C rocket carrying China's 6th Beidou navigation satellite lifts off from the launch pad at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, at 00:26 (Beijing time) on Nov. 1, 2010. [CFP] |
A Long March-3C carrier rocket carrying the "Beidou," or Compass, navigation satellite took off at 0:26 a.m. Monday from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
It will join five other satellites already in orbit to form a network. which will eventually consist of 35 satellites.
The network will provide satellite navigation services for Asia-Pacific regions by 2012 and global services by 2020.
The China Academy of Space Technology developed the satellite and the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology developed the carrier rocket.
