China launches navigation satellite
Posted: Sat, Feb 3, 2007, 6:04 AM ET (1104 GMT)
A Chinese rocket launched a new navigation satellite early Saturday in that nation's first orbital launch of the year. The Long March 3A rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 11:28 am EST Friday (1628 GMT Friday, 12:28 am Saturday Beijing time) and released the Beidou satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit about 24 minutes later. The satellite is the fourth in a series of geosynchronous orbit satellites that provide a regional satellite navigation for China. This specific satellite will initially serve as an on-orbit backup to the existing satellites, according to Chinese media accounts, and later will replace the first Beidou satellite, launched in October 2000. The country is also developing a global navigation system called Compass that China plans to deploy starting in 2008.
A Chinese rocket launched a new navigation satellite early Saturday in that nation's first orbital launch of the year. The Long March 3A rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 11:28 am EST Friday (1628 GMT Friday, 12:28 am Saturday Beijing time) and released the Beidou satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit about 24 minutes later. The satellite is the fourth in a series of geosynchronous orbit satellites that provide a regional satellite navigation for China. This specific satellite will initially serve as an on-orbit backup to the existing satellites, according to Chinese media accounts, and later will replace the first Beidou satellite, launched in October 2000. The country is also developing a global navigation system called Compass that China plans to deploy starting in 2008.| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, July 4
Coolest spacecraft ever in orbit around L2
ESA — 4:24 am ET (0824 GMT) Moonwalker Aldrin says we should colonise Mars
The Herald — 4:23 am ET (0823 GMT) Interest in space memorabilia takes a leap
Financial Times — 4:22 am ET (0822 GMT) Evidence mounts that Mars was once habitable
Arizona Republic — 4:17 am ET (0817 GMT) First Moon images sent back by Nasa orbiter show incredible details just 10ft across
The Daily Mail — 4:17 am ET (0817 GMT) |