China will send six to eight new satellites of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) into space this year, according to the ongoing tenth China Satellite Navigation Conference on Wednesday.

Two to four BDS-3 satellites will be launched in 2020 when the BDS-3 system will be fully completed, said Ran Chengqi, director of the China Satellite Navigation Office.

BDS will have the functions of short message communication and international rescue, as well as a satellite-based augmentation service covering China and surrounding areas, said Ren.

BDS system, independently constructed and operated by China, currently has 38 in-orbit satellites including 18 BDS-2 ones and 20 BDS-3 ones.

China started to build the BDS-3 system in 2009. And the construction of the BDS-3 primary system has been completed and started to provide global service since the end of 2018.

China is also planning to finish building a high precision national comprehensive positioning, navigation, and timing system on the basis of the BDS by 2035.

Source: Xinhua News Agency

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China Satellite Navigation Conference opens in Beijing
Beijing (XNA) May 23, 2019
The most recent achievements of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) will be displayed and discussed during the tenth China Satellite Navigation Conference that opened in Beijing Wednesday. The BDS is China's self-developed navigation system and is compatible with other navigation systems. According to Ran Chengqi, director of the China Satellite Navigation Office, the construction of the BDS-3 primary system had been completed and has started to provide global service. In the ... read more