Satellite positioning navigation, in our daily life, work, travel and other aspects of satellite positioning navigation. Delivering food and ordering food requires satellite positioning, and driving requires satellite navigation. Many people may not be able to work properly without satellite positioning and navigation. Even military operations are dependent on satellite positioning.
In 1994, China's satellite navigation project was approved, and we officially started the development of satellite navigation test system, named after the Big Dipper. At this point, our scientists began the development of the first generation of satellite navigation.
October 31, 2000, was a memorable date in the history of the launch of China's satellite navigation system. The first Beidou navigation experiment satellite was launched on a Long March-3A carrier rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 00:02 am Saturday. Fifty days after the launch of the first test satellite, the second test satellite was also put into synchronous orbit by a Chang Sanjia rocket.
China launched the third Beidou navigation test satellite at 00:34 on May 25, 2003. As a backup satellite, the first two satellites make up China's complete first-generation satellite navigation system, which is called Beidou-1.
In 2004, construction of the Beidou System 2 project began. In 2009, Beidou navigation satellites ushered in a period of high density launch. In 2011, the basic satellite navigation system of the Beidou region was completed, and it is capable of providing initial services to most parts of China.
In 2012, all 16 satellites of the Beidou Navigation Satellite System were successfully launched. The Information Office of The State Council held a press conference on the Beidou Navigation Satellite System on December 27, announcing that China has independently built and operated the Beidou satellite navigation system and that it will be compatible and shared with other navigation satellite systems around the world. Beidou can also provide all kinds of users with high-precision, high-reliability positioning, navigation and timing services all day long. This is the second part of the three-step strategy, the Beidou-2 System Project.
On November 5, 2017, the first and second satellites of the Beidou III satellite network blasted off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, kicking off the global network of Beidou Navigation. The Beidou-3 project was launched in December 2009, and several satellites were launched in 2017.
In 2018, the Beidou Navigation System launched 18 satellites, breaking China's speed in satellite development and production. The fifth and sixth satellites of Beidou-3, which were launched on February 12, 2018, are 100 percent domestically produced.
On September 19, 2018, Beidou added new functions such as the international search and rescue system and the global short message system, marking the official introduction of Beidou navigation to the world.
In November 2018, China successfully launched its first geosynchronous orbit satellite, becoming the world's most powerful navigation satellite in service. On November 19, the deployment of the Beidou-3 basic system constellation was successfully completed. On December 27, 2015, the Beidou Global Navigation Satellite System officially provided basic navigation services to the Belt and Road and the whole world.
On May 17, 2019, the last backup satellite of the Beidou-2 System was launched into space, marking the successful conclusion of the Beidou-2 project.
At 15:22 on December 16, 2019, the Xichang Satellite Launch Center successfully launched the 52nd and 53rd Beidou navigation satellites. It marks the completion of the deployment of the Beidou-3 Global System core constellation.
China plans to launch two more geostationary orbit satellites in the first half of 2020. By then, System Three will be fully operational. The Beidou System will be built in 2035. A more ubiquitous, integrated and intelligent national comprehensive positioning, navigation and timing system will be developed to enhance its capacity for providing spatio-temporal information and achieve high-quality development of Beidou.
In 19 years, the Chinese have successfully launched more than 50 Beidou satellites. Since the 1960s, the project has been proposed from scratch, behind which is the unremitting efforts of our generations of aerospace people.
After 40 remarkable years, China's Beidou three-step development strategy has embarked on a unique path of independent innovation, solidarity and collaboration to overcome difficulties and pursue excellence. It is not only China's Beidou, but also the world's Beidou. It is the first-class Beidou suit, serving the whole world and benefiting mankind.