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China to launch 2nd navigation satellite

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-12 21:36

BEIJING -- China plans to launch the second Beidou satellite, the Chinese version of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), into the orbit on the upcoming Wednesday.

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This was announced by a spokesman of the Xichang Space Launch Center, in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Sunday.

Both the rocket, a Long March-3III carrier, and the satellite are in sound conditions and ready for the planned projection, said the official.

China launched the first satellite, Beidou Navigation System, into geostationary orbit in Oct. 2000, in an effort to build up its own positioning system independent from the US's Global Positioning System (GPS), EU's Galileo Positioning System and Russia's Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS).

China has sent five positioning orbiters into the space. The current Beidou system only provides regional navigation service within China's territory.