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BeiDou General Introduction
| COMPASS | |
|---|---|
| Title | BeiDou General Introduction |
| Author(s) | GMV. |
| Level | Basic |
| Year of Publication | 2011 |
The Compass Navigation Satellite System (CNSS), also named BeiDou-2, is China’s second-generation satellite navigation system capable of providing positioning, navigation, and timing services to users on a continuous worldwide basis.
On November 2, 2006, China announced the 2nd generation Chinese navigation system, COMPASS [1]. The system is currently under development evolving from a regional system called BeiDou-1, and in the first phase will provide high-accuracy positioning services for users in China and its neighbouring regions. As of April 2011, eight satellites for Compass have been launched. According to an official report [2], " the eighth Beidou/Compass satellite marks the completion of basic function of Beidou (Compass) Navigation Satellite System " .
The long-term goal is to develop an independent global navigation satellite system similar to the GPS and GLONASS.[3]
Introduction
According to the China National Space Administration, the development of the Chinese global navigation system should be carried out in three steps:
- 2000 - 2003: experimental BeiDou navigation system consisting of 3 satellites;
- by 2012: regional BeiDou navigation system covering China and neighboring regions;
- by 2020: global BeiDou navigation system, or Compass Navigation system.
The first two satellites, BeiDou-1A and BeiDou-1B have been launched in 2000. The third satellite BeiDou-1C (as backup satellite), was put into orbit on 25 May 2003, meaning the establishment of the BeiDou-1 navigation system.
On November 2, 2006, China announced the 2nd generation Chinese navigation system, COMPASS, and that from 2008 BeiDou system would be evolved and would offer an open service with an accuracy of 10 meters, timing of 0.2 nanoseconds, speed of 0.2 meter/second. It followed that in February 2007, the fourth and also the last satellite of BeiDou-1 system, the BeiDou-1D (sometimes called BeiDou-2A, serving as a backup satellite), was launched and put into orbit.
In April 2007, the first satellite of BeiDou-2, namely Compass-M1, whose purpose was to validate frequencies for the COMPASS constellation, was successfully put into its working orbit. The second BeiDou-2 constellation satellite Compass-G2 was launched on 15 April 2009. The third satellite (Compass-G1) was carried into its orbit by Long March 3C (LM-3C) carrier rocket on January 17, 2010. On the 2nd of June 2010, the fourth satellite, Compass-G3, was launched successfully into orbit. The fifth orbiter, COMPASS-IGSO1, was launched into space by LM-3I carrier rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center on August 1, 2010. Three months later, on November 1, 2010, the sixth satellite,Compass-G4, was sent into orbit by LM-3C. Another IGSO navigation satellite, COMPASS-IGSO2, has been launched on December 18, 2010.[4][5]
COMPASS Related Articles
The following articles include further information about different important topics related to a COMPASS:
- COMPASS Architecture:
- COMPASS Receivers.
- COMPASS Services.
- COMPASS Performances.
- COMPASS Future and Evolutions.