China launched two navigation satellites

Almaty. November 6. Silkroadnews - China has launched two navigation satellites, The Hindu Business Line reported.
“China, which is building its own navigation system to rival United States GPS, has launched two BeiDou—3 satellites into space using a single carrier rocket. The satellites were launched aboard a Long March—3B carrier rocket last night from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan,” the report said.
It is noted that two launched satellites represent the third phase of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System.
“This system will provide services for countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, and form a complete global satellite navigation system by 2020 — by which time China plans to have more than 30 satellites,” the publication explains.
Reportedly, if everything goes according to plan, China will become the world’s third country after the U.S. and Russia to have its own navigation system.
To remind, the BeiDou project was formally launched in 1994 and started operating in China in 2000 and in the Asia-Pacific region at the end of 2012.
Compared to older satellites, BeiDou-3 features higher signals accuracy.
According to Ye Chengmin, deputy chief designer of the Long March-3A carrier rocket, launches featuring two or more satellites on a single carrier rockets will be conducted regularly.
The BeiDou-3 satellites and the carrier rocket have been developed by China Academy of Space Technology and China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, respectively.