Chinanews,Xichang, April 17 - A series of navigation satellites of the Compass Global Navigation System will be launched into space in the next few years. The Compass will be put to trial in 2008, when it will meet the needs of China and its neighbouring countries, and gradually it will be upgraded into a full-function global navigation system.

 

Last Saturday, April 14, the second satellite of the Compass was sent into space by an LM-3A carrier rocket in Xichang Satellite Launch Center, the first one being launched about 2 months ago.

 

The Compass will be a great help to China's transportation, meteorological studies, oil exploration, ocean and forest protection, disaster forecasting, communication and public security.

 

According to the plan, the Compass will be formed by 5 geostationary orbit satellites and 30 non-geostationary orbit satellites. Like the GPS, the Compass will offer both free service and authorization service.