Launching at 0249 GMT on 17 May a CALT Long March 3B (CZ-3B) rocket has carried a Chinese BeiDou-3 satellite navigation satellite into orbit. The mission lifted-off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southern China. The BeiDou-3 unit, identified as BeiDou-3 G4, is heading towards Geosynchronous orbit and will act as the first in-orbit replacement unit for the Chinese GNSS network.
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The Long March 3B rocket lifts-off carrying BEIDOU-3 G4. Courtesy: Xinhua/Yang Zhiyuan