China launches new BeiDou navigation satellites

China on Thursday sent two new satellites for the BeiDou-3 Navigation Satellite System (BDS-3) into space from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southwest China's Sichuan Province. According to China Central Television (CCTV), the 59th and 60th satellites of the BeiDou system were launched at 09:09 Beijing Time. This launch was carried out by a Long March-3C carrier rocket, which was equipped with the Yuanzheng-1 (Expedition-1) upper stage. They are medium-Earth orbit (MEO) satellites, and also the last group of backup satellites for the BDS-3. After entering their orbit and completing in-orbit tests, they will be connected to the BeiDou system, and are expected to further improve the reliability and stability of the BDS-3 system. The BDS was initiated in 1994. The construction of BDS-1 and BDS-2 was completed in 2000 and 2012, respectively. When BDS-3 was completed and put into service on 31st July 2020, China became the third country to have an independent global navigation satellite system. Sou rce: Emirates News Agency