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Chinese Satellite System begins operation

Tim Queeney
<p>Rough map of coverage area for the limited operational status of Compass (click to enlarge).</p>

Rough map of coverage area for the limited operational status of Compass (click to enlarge).

The China Daily news service recently announced that the Chinese Compass satellite navigation system — similar to American GPS — has been declared operational on a limited basis. This follows the December 2, 2011, launch of the tenth Compass satellite. The system will provide navigation, positioning and timing data on a pilot basis to China and the neighboring area. Six more satellites are scheduled for launch next year and by 2020 the entire 35-satellite constellation is expected to be in place.