BeiDouSystem

BeiDou System, also known as the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), is China’s satellite-based global navigation satellite system for positioning, navigation, and timing. It is developed and operated by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) as part of China’s broader space program. The system has evolved in three phases: BeiDou-1, completed around 2003, provided regional coverage; BeiDou-2 (also called Compass) expanded regional services in the Asia-Pacific region during the 2000s and early 2010s; BeiDou-3 achieved global coverage with a larger constellation completed in the late 2010s to early 2020s, enabling worldwide PNT services.

The BeiDou system comprises space and ground segments. The space segment includes satellites in geostationary orbit, inclined geosynchronous orbits, and medium Earth orbit to ensure coverage over the globe. The ground segment supports satellite control, mission data generation, and system augmentation to maintain accuracy and timing.

Services offered by BeiDou include an Open Service for civilian users, a Precise Positioning Service for authorized users, and a Short Message Service that allows limited text communication via satellites. The system provides accurate timing signals and is applicable to a wide range of applications, including transportation, surveying, agriculture, and disaster response. Internationally, BeiDou is designed to be interoperable with other GNSS and is increasingly integrated into consumer devices, aviation, maritime, and industrial applications, contributing to redundancy and resilience in global satellite navigation.