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BEIDOU-3 M8
Chinese Navigation Satellite (BeiDou-3) · CNSA / China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
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BeiDou-3 M8, launched in 2018, continues China's rapid BeiDou-3 deployment. BeiDou-3's short-message communication capability — letting users send brief text messages via satellite even with zero cellular coverage — is a feature GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo don't offer at all, originally built for Chinese fishing vessels and military units operating far from any cell tower. BeiDou's unique short-message texting feature, absent from GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo alike, was specifically built for scenarios like this satellite's core users: fishing vessels and remote military units operating far beyond any cellular network's reach.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Medium Earth Orbita high vantage point, ideal for navigation
- Altitude
- 13,374–13,389 mi (21,523–21,547 km)
- Inclination
- 54.2°
- One orbit
- 12.9 hours1.9 orbits a day
- NORAD ID
- 43108
- Int’l designator
- 2018-003B
- Launched
- 2018
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 21 Sep 2026.
More navigation
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- BEIDOU-3S M1SChinese Navigation Satellite (BeiDou-3S Testbed)
- BEIDOU-3S M2SChinese Navigation Satellite (BeiDou-3S Testbed)
- CENTISPACE-1 GROUP 05 OBJECT AChinese LEO GNSS Augmentation Satellite (CentiSpace-1 Group 05)
- CENTISPACE-1 GROUP 05 OBJECT BChinese LEO GNSS Augmentation Satellite (CentiSpace-1 Group 05)
- CENTISPACE-1 GROUP 05 OBJECT CChinese LEO GNSS Augmentation Satellite (CentiSpace-1 Group 05)