LM-3B/Yuanzheng 1 Launches Three BeiDou Satellites into Space

At 02:07 Beijing time on November 19 and 23:57 Beijing time on November 1, two LM-3B/Yuanzheng 1 launch vehicles lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, putting the 42nd and 43rd BeiDou satellites and the 41st BeiDou satellite of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) into their preset orbits respectively.

The three satellites are the 17th-19th satellites of the BeiDou global navigation satellite system (BeiDou 3).With the successful launch, the basic BDS constellation deployment is now completed, marking a key step for the BeiDou system from China to the world and the transition from regional to global. China plans to provide navigation services to the Belt and Road partner countries by the end of 2018.

The 41st BeiDou satellite is thefirst GEO satellite of the BeiDou system(BeiDou 3 GEO-1 satellite), and is important for the realization of BeiDou 3 to complete the constellation of “18 intermediate circle orbit satellites + 1 GEO satellite) and serve the Belt and Road. In addition to the functions of traditional navigation, the BeiDou 3 GEO-1 satellite has also an expanded number of new functions, including precision single-point positioning, satellite navigation service space-based enhancement, large capacity short message communications, which will promote the development of autopilot and precision agriculture and play a great role in aviation, navigation, emergency rescue and other applications, with a world leading level comprehensive ability and application potential.

BeiDou 3 project was formally initiated in 2009 with the approval of Chinese government. China conducted thefirst launch of a BeiDou 3 constellation satellite on November 5, 2017, and then put 19 BeiDou 3 navigation satellites into orbits within one years time with the shortest interval time between launches of 17 days, thus setting a new record for high density and high success rate in the BeiDou constellation launching history.

BeiDou 3 not only provides global services, but also achieves performance enhancement and service expansion in its technical system with the positioning accuracy increased to 2.5 - 5 m, 1 - 2 times higher than BeiDou 2. BeiDou system has become one of the important achievements in China's 40 years' reform and opening up.

The LM-3B/Yuanzheng 1 launch vehicle which carried out these missions was developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT).It is a four-stage carrier rocket with base stages and an upper stage. The base stage had a strap-on three-stage liquid rocket developed on the basis of the LM-3B launch vehicle with 4 boosters installed on the first stage. The upper stage was an orbital launcher specially developed for launching the new generation BeiDou navigation satellites using conventional propellants.

They were the 290th and 291st flights of the LM family carrier rocket,as well as the 30th and 31st flights of the LM series launch vehicle in 2018. (WEI Jinghua/China Space News)

A LM-3B/Yuanzheng 1 launch vehicle is putting the 41st BeiDou satellite into spacePhoto: NAN Yong

A LM-3B/Yuanzheng 1 launch vehicle is putting the 42nd and 43rd BeiDou satellites into spacePhoto: NAN Yong