The 54th and penultimate satellite of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) has started operation in the network after completing in-orbit tests and network access evaluations, according to a statement from China’s Satellite Navigation System Management Office.

The satellite, launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on March 9, is a geostationary earth orbit satellite of the BDS-3 system. It was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology.

The satellite will offer users positioning, navigation and timing services, and will help improve the robustness of the system, the office said.

China’s Xi’an Satellite Control Center, based in northwestern Shaanxi Province, provides maintenance support for the in-orbit satellite, sources with the center said.

The BDS is China’s independently developed and operated global navigation system. It will be fully completed in June with the launch of its final satellite, the 55th of the BeiDou family. Both the satellite and carrier rocket have been sent to the launch site, and preparations for the upcoming launch are underway.

Source: Xinhua News Agency

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First GPS 3 maneuver performed by 2nd Space Operations Squadron

Schriever AFB CO (SPX) Jun 03, 2020


The 2nd Space Operations Squadron performed the first station keeping maneuver on a GPS III satellite to Satellite Vehicle Number 75 at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, May 14.

The maneuver set a new standard for how GPS maneuvers should be conducted for the squadron that provides precision, navigation and timing signals to billions of users around the world.

A station keeping maneuver is performed to keep vehicles in their node (or parking spots in orbit) and involves burning the satelli … read more