China has launched its fourth navigation satellite into orbit last Sunday according to Chinese news agency Xinhua. It is the first satellite of Beidou class to be launched in nearly four years.
The satellite will serve a range of navigation and communications functions including navigation, mapping, global positioning, and telecommunications.
The latest launch demonstrates an increasing level of sophistication in China’s aerospace technological capability, with both the rocket and satellite developed by divisions of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
Two weeks ago China drew widespread condemnation from developed countries for launching an anti-satellite missile which subsequently destroyed one of its redundant weather satellites orbiting about 800km above the earth. Previously, only the US and Russia had demonstrated technology capable of destroying a satellite from an earth launched missile.
A number of countries including the US, UK and Japan condemned the action saying that it could lead to an arms race in space and created unnecessary space debris. China itself has publicly maintained that it opposes the militarization of space.
