China launches navigation satellite
location based services
BEIJING - A Chinese rocket placed a navigation satellite in orbit Saturday as part of an effort to build a global positioning system, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
The Long March 3-A rocket blasted off from the Xichang launching center in southwestern China and a short time later the satellite was maneuvered into orbit, 13,300 miles above the earth, Xinhua said. The satellite was the fourth China has launched as part of its Compass navigation system, which will provide the country with navigation and positioning services beginning in 2008, Xinhua said. A decade ago China grew worried about dependence on the U.S. satellite Global Positioning System network, the dominant positioning system, and began to develop alternatives. Besides the Compass system, China is investing in the SEARCH |
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