China is on course to complete a Beidou system of 35 active satellites for global GNSS coverage in 2020 with 27 satellites in MEO, five in GEO, and three in inclined GEO orbits.
The pair of one-metric-ton Beidou-3 satellites launched on 2018-11-18 are the 18th and 19th of the third-phase Beidou satellites intended for global coverage.
The enhanced Long March 3B on Nov. 18 delivered two Beidou satellites directly into medium Earth orbits at around 21,500 km altitude.
The 2018-11-18 Beidou launch used the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, the same launch site planned for the Chang’e-4 lunar mission.
China plans during 2019 and 2020 to launch three Beidou-3 satellites to inclined geosynchronous orbits and two more to geostationary orbit.
China aims to complete its global-coverage Beidou GNSS navigation system in the first half of 2020.
China seeks to complete a Beidou system of 35 active satellites by 2020 to provide global GNSS coverage, comprising 27 satellites in medium Earth orbit, five in geostationary orbit, and three in inclined geosynchronous orbits.
The two Beidou satellites launched on 2018-07-28 were the eighth and ninth Beidou system satellites launched in 2018 and were the 33rd and 34th Beidou satellites overall.
China plans to complete a Beidou system of 35 active satellites by 2020.
A Long March 3B rocket with a Yuanzheng-1Z upper stage launched two Beidou satellites into medium Earth orbit on 2018-07-28.
A Long March 3A rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre at 20:58 UTC on 2018-07-09 carrying a backup second-generation Beidou navigation and positioning satellite.
Beidou-2 satellites provide regional services while Beidou-3 satellites are part of a global coverage constellation.
The Beidou satellite launched on 2018-07-09 was designated IGSO-7 and will replace a soon-to-be-retired satellite in inclined geosynchronous orbit.
Xichang Satellite Launch Center is mainly used for launches to geostationary transfer orbit and could host as many as 17 launches in 2018, mostly of Beidou navigation and positioning satellites.