Global BeiDou Satellite System Will Be Completed By 2020

According to China’s state television broadcaster CCTV, construction of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) is progressing smoothly and expected to provide global services upon completion in 2020.

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In the past year, the BeiDou system, or more accurately the BDS-3 satellite, entered an intensive period of preparation for its launch. The constellation system will eventually consist of 35 satellites, and offer an alternative navigation and positioning system, rivaling the GPS of the United States.

China has deepened its research and development in satellite positioning technology extensively over the past decade. The BeiDou satellite systems are a series of projects that began as early as the launch of the first BeiDou satellite system in 2000. The third generation BeiDou system was launched in March 2015 and was designed for global coverage.

The state media added that the completion of the BDS-3 will mark a momentous step for China in the field of satellite positioning and navigation.

“We’ve really come a long way. Some of our functional performance indicators are really putting us in a leading position in the field of international satellite navigation.” said Xie Jun, deputy chief designer of the system.

Featured Image Source: beidou