The 54th Beidou navigation satellite, which has recently completed all in-orbit testing and assessment of the network, has begun to provide services, the Xi'an Satellite Measurement and Control Center announced today.
This is the penultimate satellite of the Beidou satellite navigation system, the last step towards full completion.
On 9 March, at 1955 hours at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, China successfully launched the Beidou III GEO-2 satellite using the Long March III B carrier rocket.
Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites, known as "auspicious stars", have the most features, the most signals, the largest size and the longest lifespan of the Beidou III satellite system, and offer broad application prospects.
The last GEO-2 satellite launched was the 54th satellite of the Beidou system and the 29th satellite of Beidou III.
It is also the penultimate satellite of the Beidou system, which has resulted in the launch of 30 Beidou III satellites and the completion of the Beidou global navigation system six months ahead of schedule.
It will join forces with the Beidou III GEO-1 satellite, which was launched on November 1, 2018, to verify the new system active positioning function of the Beidou system, kicking off a comprehensive upgrade of the radio measurement function.
