China launches 2nd satellite in GPS system

China fired into orbit Wednesday its second satellite in a program to build an alternative to the global positioning system based on U.S. satellites. The geostationary satellite is one of a series being slung into space to form the Beidou, or ``Compass,'' navigation system, the official news agency said, calling the system a ``crucial part of the country's space infrastructure.'' The system is touted by China as an alternative to the U.S. satellite GPS network, the dominant positioning system, although it isn't clear how far China has progressed in bringing the project to fruition. Although the U.S. government says China has already launched at least five navigation satellites, agency said Wednesday's launch, which was fired off at 00:16 a.m. (1616 GMT) from the southwestern Xichang launching center using a Long March 3C rocket, was only the second directly tied to the global navigation system.
The News

This is actually the 5th such satellite. But the first 3 was Beidou-1 system for experimental purpurse. This is the second of Beidou-2 system. The Beidou-2 will have 36 satellites, and more than 10 of them will be shot in 2009 and 2010.

Beidou-2 will have all the function of US GPS system and beyound, such as communication and tracking. The new functions will be very useful in battlefield.