BeiDou-3 China rushes its Global GPS

To date, the constellation of Chinese GPS satellites BeiDou-2 covers only part of East Asia and the Western Pacific. With the commissioning of GALILEO European GPS late 2016, the replacement scheduled of U.S. 2nd generation GPSII by the 3rd generation GPSIII, the launch into orbit of the 3rd generation of Russian GLONASS-M satellites, China intends to catch up with global coverage forced march.

Competition is fierce, and if China respects the schedule, BeiDou-3 constellation will be completed before GALILEO is complete. A point on the situation at early 2017 :

Beidou-3 (China)

The Chinese government has released an impressive launch schedule : orbiting of 32 BeiDou-3 satellites, dont 9 in medium orbit (MEO) in 2017, retire of 11 BeiDou-2 satellites, adding 14 operational satellites remained. The whole thing was completed in mid-2020.

The particularity of the Chinese system is that it is made up of 5 Geostationary satellites (GEO), 3 angled geosynchronous satellites and 24 satellites in medium orbits (MEO) divided into three levels, and 3 satellites (MEO) as spare.

GPS-III (USA)

On September 3 February 2016 The U. S. Air Force has sent the 12th and last Block IIF of the 2nd generation satellite GPS-II. Currently 31 satellites are operational in medium orbit (MEO).

The generation GPS-III, the first eight satellites of which are in production at Lockheed-Martin, is expected to begin launching in 2017. Two other satellites have been ordered for a launch hoped for in 2022. The complete replacement of the GPS-II constellation is not expected to be completed, with 32 satellites, before 2030, unless financing and production are accelerated.

GLONASS (Russia)

In October 2017, Russia to celebrate 35th anniversary of launch of first GNSS satellite. The system, originally to use 30 satellites, now has 24 satellite distributed on 3 plans. The 3rd generation of GLONASS-M satellites is being deployed (despite the loss of 3 satellites during the failed launch of the 2 July 2013), and a 4th generation GLONASS-K is in the works, planned to be launched from 2018. Russia is reportedly considering supplementing this new constellation with geostationary satellites in the future (GEO) and in high orbits (HEO).

GALILEO (Europe)

With 18 First satellites launched to date, 11 are operational, 2 in tests, the 4 last launched commissioning, and 1 unavailable. It should be remembered that it is necessary at least 18 operational satellite for a global coverage .

China and the United States benefit from financing capacity which leaves them at the top of this competition, ahead of Russia and Europe whose financial resources are more limited. The services market associated with the GNSS is estimated at such astronomical amounts that each of the major players hope to take the majority by a better offer, and more quickly available, than that of its competitors.

Whatever happens, with up to 130 location satellites turning a furious over our mastheads, if we can still get lost !…

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Constellations status :
GPSBeiDouGLONASSGALILEO
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Related articles :
BeiDou-2 The Chinese GPS
The American GPS in full evolution

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