[FPSPACE] Beidou-1

[Chen Lan]

[October 31, 2000] China Puts 1st Navigation Positioning Satellite into
Orbit

China successfully put its first home-made navigation positioning satellite,
the Beidou Navigation Testing Satellite, into orbit early today with a Long
March 3-A rocket. The carrier rocket blasted off at 0:02 (Beijing time) from
the Xichang Satellite Launching Center in Sichuan Province, southwest China.
To meet the demand for country's satellite navigation, China will establish
its first generation of satellite navigation positioning system --the Beidou
Navigation System, an official said. It will be an all-weather regional
navigation system that provides satellite-guided information round the clock
for such sectors as highway and railway transportation and seafaring. Cao
Gangchuan, a member of the Central Military Commission and director of the
General Armament Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army,
observed the launching process on site. (Xinhua)

Chen Lan
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Launchpad/1921/index.htm