A Chinese Long March 3B rocket with a Yuanzheng-1 upper stage will lift a pair of Beidou-3 navigation satellites into a 21,500-Kilometer Medium Earth Orbit to join the Compass Navigation Satellite System to support its fully operational capability by the end of the decade. Beidou-3 comprises satellites in Geostationary Orbit, inclined Geosynchronous Orbits and Medium Earth Orbits to provide global coverage and compatibility with China’s previous two navigation system generations.

This is the third dual-launch in support of the Beidou-3 MEO generation, involving two CAS-built satellites. Their designation is not fully clear – media information suggests Beidou-3 M7 and M8 were shipped for this launch (if launched in numerical order, their designation would be M3 & M4).

Mission Resources:

? Launch Vehicle Overview: Long March 3B

? Payload Overview: Beidou-3 Satellite Navigation System

☂ Launch Weather

? Launch Site Schedule