China launches 8th satellite for global navigation

A Long March-3A carrier rocket lifts off at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China's Sichuan province, April 10, 2011. China successfully launched into space a eighth orbiter for its independent satellite navigation and positioning network known as Beidou, or Compass System here Saturday. [Photo/Xinhua]

XICHANG, Sichuan - China early Sunday morning successfully launched its eighth orbiter which will form part of its indigenous satellite-navigation and -positioning network.

A Long March-3A carrier rocket carrying the "Beidou," or Compass, navigation satellite took off at 4:47 am Sunday from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China's Sichuan province.

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It will join seven other satellites already in orbit to form a network which will eventually consist of more than 30 satellites.

The launching of the satellite marks the establishment of a basic system for the navigation and positioning network, said an unidentified spokesperson for the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

China will launch more satellites within the coming two years to finish a regional network to provide navigation services with high precision and credibility for industries and sectors such as mapping, fishery, transportation, meteorology and telecommunication, in the Asia-Pacific regions, the spokesperson said.

The network is scheduled to be able to provide global services by 2020.