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A new backup satellite for the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) has been launched to provide more precise services to users in China and surrounding areas. As a major national sci-tech project, the BDS is a global navigation satellite system, constructed and operated independently by China. The 56th satellite for the BDS was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.
This is the first BeiDou satellite launched since July 31, 2020, when the BeiDou system began providing full-scale global services. The arrival of the backup satellite is expected to further improve the performance of the system, which is used in more than 120 countries other than China.