Heavy investments into China's Beidou navigation system
18 May 2013
China is expected to invest 7 billion yuan ($1.13 billion) to support the development of industries related to the country's Beidou satellite navigation system before 2015, an industry insider said. The Ministry of Transport required all tour coaches, long-distance buses and vehicles carrying dangerous goods in nine provinces, or around 80,000 vehicles, to install the Beidou system before June, or the vehicles' permits may not be approved.
Ran Chengqi, spokesman for the China Satellite Navigation Office added that automotive navigation equipment is now entering mass production and will gradually be launched into the consumer market.
Wei Baoguo, a researcher with the China Electronics Technology Group Corp, said that his company is designing a rescue system based on Beidou to be used at scenic spots, which will soon be promoted nationwide.
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Pentagon Continues Use of China Satellite in New Lease
16 May 2013
The Pentagon will continue for another year the lease of a Chinese commercial satellite to provide communications for its Africa Command. The use of China’s Apstar-7 satellite will be extended under a $10.7 million lease through the government solutions unit of a U.S. company, Harris CapRock Communications, the Pentagon said yesterday in an e-mailed statement.
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Sounding Rocket launch for scientific reseach of high-altitude atmosphere
14 May 2013
Chinese scientists conducted on 13 May an experiment in the high-altitude atmosphere and near-Earth space with the launch of a sounding rocket. The National Space Science Center (NSSC) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences said the rocket was launched at 9 p.m. Monday, 13 May, from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China. The experiment was designed to investigate energetic particles and magnetic fields in the ionized stratum and near-Earth space.
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Photos from Chang'e 3 thermal vacuum testing
09 May 2013
Photos from Chang'e 3 thermal vacuum testing were published by Emily Lakdawalla on the Planetary Society Blog.
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