BD-2 G7 (Beidou DW23)

Launch data:

Description:

• BD 2G (Beidou 2G) satellites are the GEO component of the 2rd phase of the chinese Beidou (Compass) satellite navigation system, which, in contrast to GPS and GLONASS, uses both geostationary satellites and satellites in intermediate orbit. This series, also called "Compass-G" is the geostationary constellation.
• The craft launched is the Beidou system´s 23rd satellite, and the third new spacecraft to join the fleet this year. It is also the 7th geostationary satellite in the Beidou-2 generation.
  China aims for the Beidou network to be ready for global navigation services in 2020, joining the U.S. Air Force’s Global Positioning System, Russia’s Glonass service and Europe’s Galileo navigation satellites — which is still in its initial deployment phase — as worldwide providers.

Mission details:

• The Long March 3C rocket lifted off at 1530 GMT (11:30 a.m. EDT) from the Xichang launch base in southwestern China's Sichuan province, according to the Xinhua news agency.
  Powered by a core stage and two hydrazine-fueled strap-on engines, the Long March 3C climbed away from Xichang, turning east and dropping its twin boosters about two minutes after liftoff. The rocket's first stage shut down and jettisoned about two-and-a-half minutes into the flight, and the second stage ignited for a three-minute burn.
  A reignitable cryogenic third stage consuming a mix of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen fired up for the first of two burns Sunday less than six minutes after launch, and the rocket released the Beidou navigation satellite into orbit about a half-hour into the mission.

External links:

• Satellite tracking: Real time satellite tracking