HELSINKI — China has introduced a strategic roadmap for advancing its Beidou positioning and navigation system by 2035, in a transfer which may have world implications.
The nation plans to finish key know-how analysis for the next-generation Beidou system by 2025 and launch three check satellites round 2027, in accordance to the “Beidou Satellite tv for pc Navigation System Improvement Plan earlier than 2035,” launched by the China Satellite tv for pc Navigation System Administration Workplace (CNSO) Nov. 28.
The subsequent technology of Beidou system networking satellites will then be launched round 2029. The development of the next-generation Beidou system might be accomplished by 2035.
China already has a 30-satellite Beidou system offering positioning, navigation and timing companies globally. It options 24 satellites in medium Earth orbits, with eight in every airplane, excluding backups. There are three Beidou satellites in inclined geosynchronous orbits and three satellites in geostationary orbits.
The upgraded Beidou system will use satellites in excessive (probably referring to geosynchronous), medium and low Earth orbits, in accordance with the report.
The brand new system will present real-time, high-precision, and extremely dependable navigation, positioning, and timing companies throughout Earth and near-Earth areas, with accuracy starting from meter-level to decimeter-level, in accordance to state media International Occasions.
The system will assist person terminals spanning from Earth’s floor to deep area, and combine with different non-satellite-based navigation and timing applied sciences.
Beidou, just like the U.S. International Positioning System (GPS) and different programs from Europe and Russia, are used for civilian functions akin to driving, aviation, and maritime navigation worldwide, in addition to supporting trade, agriculture and finance. Additionally they have navy functions by precision-guided munitions, UAVs, and battlefield navigation.
Notably, the system is already extensively thought-about to be superior to the GPS in some areas. GPS’s capabilities are already “considerably inferior to these of China’s Beidou,” in accordance to the Nationwide House-Primarily based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Advisory Board (PNTAB). Whereas Beidou has distinctive benefits, akin to two-way communication and regional accuracy, GPS nonetheless dominates globally by way of adoption and sure technological benchmarks.
In the meantime, U.S. efforts to modernize GPS face delays and technical challenges, in accordance with a Authorities Accountability Workplace (GAO) report.
An improved, next-generation Beidou may see China far surpass the U.S. and others in PNT capabilities. This might see it turn out to be probably the most favored system, increasing its industrial and financial affect, place China as a supplier of worldwide public items and improve its gentle energy, and supply enhanced navy capabilities.
This effort aligns with China’s broader nationwide initiative for a House-Floor Built-in Data Community (SGIIN), which goals to merge communications, distant sensing, navigation, climate forecasting, and different satellite tv for pc companies right into a unified system. Beidou’s integration into SGIIN would doubtlessly improve its utility and additional solidify its position in world satellite tv for pc infrastructure.
China is planning not less than two low Earth orbit megaconstellations for communications, and has already constructed up distant sensing infrastructure in orbit by its Gaofen and Yaogan programs. China launched its first Beidou satellite tv for pc in October 2000. The ultimate pair of backup Beidou-3 satellites—the 59th and sixtieth launched throughout this system—launched on a Lengthy March 3B rocket in September.
