China launches 2 satellites to boost its navigation system

China yesterday successfully launched two satellites with a single rocket to strengthen its BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), which will serve countries along the ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by the end of this year. 

Xinhua report said, the Long March-3B rocket, carrying the two satellites, today lifted off from



Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province at 1:56 am.

The two satellites are coded as the 30th and 31st members in the BDS. They entered orbit more than three hours after the launch and will work together with six previously launched BeiDou-3 satellites once they pass a series of tests.