Sihai network

What is special about the successful launch of the 46th Beidou satellite?

At 2:09 on the 5th, the 46th Beidou navigation satellite was successfully launched, which is the 21st satellite of beidou-3 satellite system and the second IGSO (inclined geosynchronous orbit) satellite of beidou-3. Xi'an Branch of the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation provided all payloads such as navigation subsystem and antenna subsystem for the satellite.

On April 20 this year, the first IGSO satellite of beidou-3 was successfully launched. After the launched IGSO satellite entered the working orbit and conducted a series of in orbit tests, it will be networked with the 20 previously launched beidou-3 satellites.

Zhang Lixin, deputy chief designer of beidou-3 satellite of Xi'an Branch, introduced that "beidou-3 satellite system includes satellite designs of three different types of orbits: MEO (medium circular earth orbit), geo (geosynchronous orbit) and IGSO (inclined geosynchronous orbit), which is also unique and internationally initiated by Beidou system."

Beidou-3's MEO satellite is the main force of global networking. It runs around the earth according to a certain track to achieve global service capability; Geo satellites always move with the earth's rotation, focusing on domestic navigation services at all times; IGSO satellite will effectively increase the visible number of satellites in the Asia Pacific region, provide better services for the Asia Pacific region, and is also an important cornerstone for ensuring the smooth transition from Beidou 2 to Beidou 3.

Zhang Lixin said that compared with beidou-3 MEO satellite, IGSO satellite is larger, weighs more than five tons, and the design life of the satellite is 12 years. After the satellite is connected to the network, the coverage capacity and service performance of Beidou system will be further improved.