The maiden launch of the Long March 3B/YZ-1 (CZ-3B/YZ-1) version of the venerable Chinese launch launch vehicle, flying from the Xichang launch site in China, successfully launched two Beidou-3 class navigation satellites (Beidou-3 M-1S and Beidouo-3 M-2S) on their way to an inclined Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). The launch took place at 1229 GMT on 25 July 2016. The launch used a YZ-1 transfer/upper stage to release the two satellites into a 21,523km x 22,193km orbit at 55 degrees inclination relative to the equatorial plane. Beidou is the Chinese equivalent of the US GPS navigation satellite system. It differs in that the Chinese system has elements in different orbits including MEO and inclined GEO instead of just MEO.