A newly-launched satellite of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) entered its preset orbit, according to Xi’an Satellite Control Center.
After four orbital transfers, the satellite entered its operational orbit, said Zhao Guoqiang, an engineer with the control center.
The satellite was launched last Saturday on a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province.
It is the 44th satellite of the BeiDou Navigation satellite family and the first BDS-3 satellite in inclined geosynchronous Earth orbit.
After in-orbit tests, the satellite will work with 18 other BeiDou Navigation Satellite-3 satellites in intermediate circular orbit and one in geosynchronous Earth orbit.