China successfully launched the 35th and final satellite of its Beidou satellite constellation on 23 June, writes Space.com. The Beidou Navigation Satellite (BDS) was launched into orbit on the back of a Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China. Liftoff occurred after a weeklong delay due to a technical problem with the rocket.
The Beidou service is expected to provide China with increased independence from US-owned GPS and increase competition in a sector long dominated by the US.
China came up with the idea to create Beidou in the 1990s as the military sought to reduce dependence on the Global Positioning System (GPS) run by the US Air Force. With overall investments estimated at USD 10 billion, Beidou is designed to provide navigation and positioning services for a wide range of applications, from the military and business applications to consumer smartphones.
