Twin satellites launched to develop China’s BeiDou system

China successfully sent twin satellites into space on a single carrier rocket on Monday, marking the third launch of the self-developed BeiDou-3 Navigation Satellite System.

China sent twin satellites into space on a single carrier rocket on Monday. [Photo: China Plus/Li Jin]

The pair blasted off on a Long March-3B carrier rocket at 1:03 p.m. BJT from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, and entered the preset orbit about three hours later. 

China sent twin satellites into space on a single carrier rocket on Monday. [Photo: China Plus/Li Jin]

Named after the seven bright guiding stars, the BeiDou navigation system has been providing navigation services in the Asia-Pacific region since 2012. It is scheduled to cover countries and regions along the Belt and Road by 2018. A  complete 35-satellite network allowing global coverage will also be in place by 2020.

China sent twin satellites into space on a single carrier rocket on Monday. [Photo: China Plus/Li Jin]