37948 - BEIDOU IGSO 5

BEIDOU IGSO 5, a Chinese navigation satellite, was launched from Xichang on 2011 December 1 at 21:07 UT by a Long March 3A rocket. BEIDOU IGSO 5 is part of China's Compass Navigation Satellite System (CNSS). China's navigation system has the capability to provide continuous, real-time passive 3D geo-spatial positioning and speed measurement and will eventually consist of 35 vehicles. The Beidou satellite fleet provides precise navigation data to China's military and civil government officials. Positioning information with an accuracy of 10 m will be released to the public worldwide. The long-term goal is to develop a global navigation satellite network by 2020.