Navigation
BEIDOU-3 M1
Chinese Navigation Satellite (BeiDou-3, Founding Satellite) · CNSA / China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
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BeiDou-3 M1, launched November 2017, is one of the first two satellites of China's fully global BeiDou-3 constellation — the culmination of a program that began after a 1990s missile test humiliation convinced Chinese planners never to depend on GPS again. BeiDou-3 satellites carry inter-satellite laser and radio crosslinks letting the constellation operate accurately even if China's ground stations lose contact with a satellite for extended periods, and China deliberately built global coverage rather than settling for BeiDou-2's Asia-Pacific-only regional footprint.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Medium Earth Orbita high vantage point, ideal for navigation
- Altitude
- 13,369–13,393 mi (21,515–21,555 km)
- Inclination
- 56.8°
- One orbit
- 12.9 hours1.9 orbits a day
- NORAD ID
- 43001
- Int’l designator
- 2017-069A
- Launched
- 2017
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 22 Sep 2026.
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