At 0:16 on April 15 this year, China used the "Long March 3C" carrier rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center to successfully launch the second "Beidou-2" navigation satellite into the predetermined orbit, which immediately attracted the attention of the world.
Schematic diagram of China’s "Beidou" positioning and navigation system
It is understood that the Beidou navigation satellite launched this time is the second networking satellite in China’s Beidou satellite navigation system construction plan and is a geostationary orbit satellite. Its successful launch is of great significance to the construction of Beidou satellite navigation system.
The satellite navigation system is the "space eye" of the modern military. Without it, cruise missiles, laser-guided bombs and strategic nuclear missiles would be "blind". Satellite navigation systems can bring huge social and economic benefits, and have a profound impact on people’s livelihood and national defense. At present, the development of satellite navigation systems has become the focus of competition among countries.
China’s Beidou landing in space Form a "four-strong competition"
China’s successful launch of the Beidou navigation satellite has attracted great attention from the media of the United States, Russia, Britain, France and other countries. Because it means that China has finally broken the monopoly of the West in the field of space information, forming a "four-strong competition" pattern in satellite navigation systems between the United States, Russia, Europe and China.
The US Department of Defense began to implement the development of GPS satellite positioning system in 1973, and is the world’s first global satellite navigation system inventor. The current GPS system consists of 28 satellites, which has monopolized the global military and civilian satellite navigation market for a long time. China’s civilian vehicle navigation system is basically covered by the US GPS.
After the United States, Russia has also caught up in the development of satellite navigation. The "GLONASS" navigation system was developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and is mainly used in the military field. In 1982, the first navigation satellite was launched into orbit. In 2001, Russia and India cooperated to upgrade it to a dual-use global navigation system. At present, after the deployment of 24 satellites in the "GLONASS" system, the satellite navigation range can cover the entire earth’s surface and near-Earth space, and the positioning accuracy will reach within 1.5 meters. The positioning accuracy of "GLONASS" is not as good as that of the US GPS and the European "Galileo", but the anti-jamming ability is the strongest, which can effectively prevent the entire satellite navigation system from being jammed by the enemy.
European countries are not far behind in the development of satellite navigation systems. In 1999, Europe proposed the establishment of the "Galileo" navigation satellite system plan. After a long period of deliberation, on March 26, 2002, the meeting of the 15 transport ministers of the European Union unanimously decided to officially launch the "Galileo" navigation satellite plan. At present, European countries have launched the "Galileo" satellite navigation system composed of more than 30 satellites, which is 10 times more accurate than GPS and has an error range of less than 1 meter for objects. Experts vividly say that GPS can only find the street, while "Galileo" can find the garage door.
Schematic diagram of the European "Galileo" positioning and navigation system
The launch of China’s Beidou navigation satellite means that China has become the fourth country to master satellite navigation after the US GPS, Russia’s "Glonass" and Europe’s "Galileo". The US "Space Review" believes that China’s "Beidou" can greatly enhance the precision strike capability of the People’s Liberation Army.
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