China to Have Global Satellite Navigation System by 2015

An artist's impression of a Beidou Satellite.

    China will complete an independent global satellite navigation system by launching at least 30 more orbiters before 2015. China plans to send 10 navigation satellites into space by 2010, said Zhao Xiaojin, director of the astronautics department of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

    The U.S.'s GPS has been widely used for commercial navigation in vehicles, cell phones and other civilian devices in China. Chinese civilian and military users could be guided by their own satellites after Beidou becomes the world's fourth global navigation system. China launched the first Beidou Navigation System satellite into geostationary orbit in October 2000, in an effort to build up its own positioning system, and has since sent a further five positioning orbiters into space. However, the current Beidou system only provides regional navigation services within Chinese territory.