Another Beidou/Compass Satellite Launched
July 26, 2011News courtesy of CANSPACE Listserv.
The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology is reporting the successful launch of another satellite in the Beidou/Compass navigation system. According to the report, this is the fourth inclined geosynchronous orbit (IGSO) satellite launched. The first IGSO was launched October 31, 2010.
Plans call for completion of a 14-satellite constellation by 2012. The constellation would consist of five geostationary or GEO, five IGSO, and four medium-Earth orbit satellites, to provide a regional service over eastern Asia. Long-range plans envision a 35-satellite constellation providing global service by 2020: 27 MEO, 3 IGSO, and 5 GEO.
A carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center blasted off smoothly, according to the report, putting the Compass IGSO-4 satellite into orbit.
A video of the launch is available from CCTV.
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