China successfully launched a rocket with BeiDou-3 twin navigation satellites, which are the 37th and 38th elements of the nation's space-based navigation system, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) said on Thursday.
BEIJING (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 20th September, 2018) China successfully launched a rocket with BeiDou-3 twin navigation satellites, which are the 37th and 38th elements of the nation's space-based navigation system, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) said on Thursday.
The Long March-3B rocked with the two satellites lifted off the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China's southwest Sichuan province at 10:07 p.m. local time (14:07 GMT) on Wednesday, the agency said, adding that the two satellites successfully reached the orbit after the launch.
The Chinese space exploration program has said that the BeiDou system would provide services to the countries located along the so-called New Silk Road transport route, initiated by China in cooperation with other regional players, in 2018.
China has been building its own satellite navigation system to rival GPS in the United States, Glonass in Russia, and Galileo in the European Union. The system comprises two satellite constellations. Beijing plans to launch up to 30 Beidou-3 satellites to the orbit by the end of 2020.
