Beidou Launch Completes Regional Nav System

December 6, 2011

The Beidou-2/Compass IGSO-5 (fifth inclined geosynchonous orbit) satellite was launched on December 1 from Xichang, China. Exact launch time was 21:07:04.189 UTC. The third stage of the CZ-3A rocket with the satellite attached achieved a geosynchronous transfer orbit and the satellite subsequently separated according to NORAD/JSpOC. As of December 7, the satellite is still in geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), orbiting the Earth about twice a day with a highly eliptic orbit. To get to geosynchronous orbit, the satellite's apogee kick motor will have to be fired. The satellite is not drifting to its intended orbit, for example, like a GLONASS satellite might.

According to an announcement on the official government Beidou/Compass website, this launch completes the construction of the basic regional navigation system for service to China and will be operational by the end of the year. However, completion of the Phase II development, to provide service to the Asia/Pacific region, will require further satellite launches in 2012. Phase III global coverage, with a 30-satellite system, will be achieved by 2020 according to the website.

The GNSS community outside China still awaits a Compass interface control document (ICD), which has been promised by the end of 2012.