China launches third orbiter

China successfully launched an orbiter from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province yesterday.

It is the third orbiter launched for the country's independent satellite navigation and positioning network, also known as Beidou, or COMPASS system. It will join the two already in orbit to form a network that will eventually have 35 satellites, and be capable of providing global navigation service to users around the world by about 2020.

Xinhua