China Launches Beidou System in Hopes to Split From US GPS
China has launched the Beidou Navigation Satellite System, its first that is independent from any other nation.
The country launched the new satellite in an attempt to abate dependence on the US-based Global Positioning System. Beidou began providing initial positioning and timing operational services to China and its surrounding areas on Tuesday, according to a spokesman for the system.
China's reasoning for breaking away from the U.S. systems mostly had to do with the military. China’s reliance on America’s GPS put the nation in danger in terms of national security.
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China is expected to launch six more satellites in 2012 to improve its new Beidou system. The extra satellites will also allow the country to extend its reach with the system and cover most parts of the Asia-Pacific region, said spokesman Ran Chengqi, who is also director of the management office of the China Satellite Navigation System.
China started developing and building this Beidou system in 2000, with hopes to end its dependence on the GPS and have its own global positioning system by 2020. Beidou is compatible and interoperable with other major global navigation satellite systems worldwide, according to Ran.
Ran also encouraged enterprises in China and abroad to join the research and development of application terminals compatible with Beidou. According to state-run news agency Xinhua, a beta version of the system’s Interface Control Document could be accessed online starting Tuesday.
Ran also told reporters that the Beidou navigation system is offering services including positioning, navigation routes, and time.
GPS is a space-based satellite navigation system that provides location and time information on all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth. It is maintained by the U.S. government and is accessible to any person or nation using a GPS receiver.
