Anchor: China has successfully launched its second navigation satellite into space. The launch moves the country a step closer to having its own global satellite navigation system, known as Compass.
Damin has more.
Reporter: As the second "compass" satellite slides into its geostationary orbit, China now literally has a network of navigation satellites built with its own technology.(www.hxen.com)
Though the system has only two units in operation at present, Chinese engineers say the number will soon dramatically increase.
Chen Zhonggui is vice project engineer of the system,
"In two years we will extend the network of two satellites into a network of 12, so that in 2011 we shall be serving clients with a fully-functional, global navigation system. We expect to build a bigger system of some 30 satellites by 2020."
The whole compass project is managed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
The space technology headquarters of China launch the first compass satellite in 2007.
It has been providing regional navigation services for China and neighboring countries.
Experts with the corporation say when the system can cover the whole world, it will bring really economic benefits to the country, besides scientific and social ones.
Zhao Xiaojin is a senior officer with the corporation.
"The launching of a global satellite navigation system will be a huge business opportunity. I can see hundreds of billions of Yuan run into industries relating to or evolved from the Compass system."
The positioning system can be used for weather and disaster forecasting, detecting oil resources, telecommunications, forest fire monitoring, and public security, among other things.
It will become the world's fourth global positioning system.
