China begins using new global positioning satellite
BEIJING (Reuters) - China took a further step on Tuesday toward ending its dependence on
U.S. satellites to provide navigation and positioning services with the start of trial operations of its homegrown Beidou system.
China started
a drive to end its reliance on the U.S. global positioning system in 2000, when it sent an experimental pair of positioning satellites into
orbit.
Ran Chengqi, spokesman for the new system, told reporters that Beidou, or "Big Dipper," would cover most parts of the Asia Pacific by
next year and then the world by 2020.
China has already launched 10 satellites to support Beidou and would launch another six next year, he
said.
State media have said the system will eventually comprise 35 satellites, which will be used for a variety of sectors including fisheries,
meteorology and telecommunications.
China has ambitious plans for space, including a space station and a manned trip to the moon.
While
China has vowed never to militarize space, experts say it is ramping up the military use of space with new satellites.
The successful missile
"kill" of an old satellite in early 2007 represented a new level of ability for the Chinese military, and last year China successfully tested
emerging technology aimed at destroying missiles in mid-air.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Xinhua adds:
China's homegrown Beidou Navigation Satellite System began providing initial positioning, navigation and timing operational services to China and its
surrounding areas from Tuesday, a spokesman for the system said.
Six more satellites will be launched in 2012 to further improve the Beidou
system and expand its service area to cover most parts of the Asia-Pacific region, spokesman Ran Chengqi, who is also director of the management
office of the China Satellite Navigation System, told a press conference.
China began to build the Beidou system in 2000 with a goal of
breaking its dependence on the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) and creating its own global positioning system by 2020.
So far, China has
launched 10 satellites for the Beidou system, with the tenth being lifted into orbit earlier this month.
The Beidou system is compatible and
interoperable with the world's other major global navigation satellite systems, according to Ran.
Ran encouraged enterprises at home and
abroad to join the research and development of application terminals compatible with Beidou, saying a beta version of the system's Interface Control
Document (ICD) could be accessed online starting Tuesday.
Official website of China Navigation:
http://www.beidou.gov.cn/
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