On February 1, China successfully put a new-generation Beidou satellite into orbit to support its global navigation and positioning network. As a key satellite of the Beidou Navigation Satellite System, it was co-developed by the Shanghai Engineering Center for Microsatellites and the China Electronics Technology Group Corp.

The satellite is a milestone since it has integrated CAS’s self-developed key technological achievements, including a hydrogen maser as the precision timer, and highly integrated special space radiation hardened chips. Together with the four previously-launched new-generation Beidou satellites, the satellite has basically established the global networking mode of the Beidou navigation system.

China put a new-generation Beidou navigation satellite into orbit on February 1. （Image by CAS）

Sketch map of the Beidou global navigation and positioning satellites network （Image by CAS）