China has sent another pair of BeiDou-3 (BDS) navigation satellites into space. They were launched early Monday morning from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

With the successful launch, the basic BDS constellation deployment is complete. We were joined in the studio by deputy designer of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite Chang Xinuo. She briefed us on the technological breakthroughs of the BeiDou-3 Satellite system. 

She said the self-developed BDS-3 satellites are more stable and have higher accuracy than the previous BDS-2 satellites. They are equipped with higher-performance rubidium atomic clocks with stability of E-14 and as well as hydrogen atomic clocks with stability of E-15.

The signal-in-space (SIS) accuracy will be superior to 0.5 meters, the position accuracy will reach 2.5 meters to 5 meters. And the overall performance will be dramatically improved. The in-orbit test has indicated that the BDS-3 satellites are in sound situation, and the performances can satisfy nominal parameters. 

She added that, by working with the 17 other BeiDou-3 satellites already in orbit, the basic satellite constellation of BeiDou-3 will be established by the end of the year.

By then, the network will provide basic navigation service for countries or regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. With an advanced satellite-based augmentation system, the BDS can also provide low-cost and reliable navigation services to civil aviation clients at home and abroad.