Two of the world's satellite positioning service constellations reached major milestones this week, after the European Space Agency and China's Satellite Navigation Office each launched a pair of satellites.
China launches new Beidou navigation satellites
Europe's ventures were carried by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that left Florida's Kennedy Space Center on September 18. A day later, China's birds rode a Long March 3B that launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province.
China's ventures were the 63rd and 64th members of its Beidou constellation, which currently has 50 operational satellites.
This pair was the last of China's third generation navigation sat designs. Local media reported that the two satellites are spare parts in case others falter, and that they include some technology expected to be part of fourth-generation efforts.
