China will establish a global navigation system by 2020. China National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Chinese space technology expert Qi Fabiao revealed on the 1st when they were interviewed by Xinhua News Agency.

Qi Fabiao said that navigation and positioning satellites are crucial to the economic construction and national defense construction of a country. With the spread of globalization, communications and navigation have become increasingly important for production and construction and homeland security.

There are two kinds of navigation satellites, one is regional and the other is global. In China, it is Beidou-1 and Beidou-2. Qi Fabiao told Xinhua News Agency reporters that China has completed the "three-step" plan for completing and improving the global navigation system.

The first step is the regional navigation system, which has been completed by Beidou No. 1 satellite positioning system. This is independently developed by China and uses geosynchronous satellites to provide users with satellite positioning systems that cover all weather conditions and cover China and the surrounding areas. China launched three "Beidou" geostationary orbit test navigation satellites on October 31, 2000, December 21, 2000, and May 25, 2003, and formed the "Beidou" regional satellite navigation system. The Beidou-1 satellite played an important role after the Wenchuan earthquake. Qi Fabiao said that in the event of communication disruption after the earthquake, the rescue force carrying the Beidou No. 1 system receiver arrived at the disaster area at the designated time, and it also became the only way to contact the outside world in the disaster area after the earthquake.

“But the regional navigation has not met the actual needs at present. China, which is growing and expanding, needs to establish a global positioning and navigation system in order to comply with the scientific development situation.” Qi Fajun said, the Beidou-2 Global Positioning System came into being and will be The two steps and the third step are completed together.

The second step is to complete the mission of launching 12 to 14 satellites in the early period of the “Twelfth Five-Year Plan” to form a regional positioning system that can be autonomously navigated.

The third step, that by 2020, there are more than 30 satellites covering the world.

The Beidou-2 satellite navigation system will overcome the shortcomings of the Beidou-1 system and resolve the limitations of the coverage area. It will also have other multiple uses such as fast positioning, short message communication, and precision timing. Qi Fajun said that Beidou 2 will provide land, sea and air navigation and positioning services for military and civilian users in China and the surrounding areas, and promote the application of satellite positioning, navigation, and time service functions to provide space users with positioning and orbit determination methods to satisfy the weapons. Guidance needs to meet the needs of navigation and positioning information exchange.

He said: "Beidou-2 is equivalent to domestic GPS, as long as the United States GPS applications, Beidou-2 can be applied." Scientists can monitor the tiny movement of the crust to help predict earthquakes; surveying and mapping personnel can determine the ground boundary; drivers in When you get lost, you can discern the direction; the army can guarantee the accuracy of the course.

In the Chinese market, the current civilian use of the global satellite positioning system is most concentrated on vehicle navigation instruments. The United States GPS vehicle navigation equipment occupies a major market in China. Qi Fabiao believes that domestic GPS, that is, Beidou II, will enter into use, will compete with the United States GPS, for the average consumer is good and no harm, China Beidou No. 2 car navigation system will be compatible with GPS.

"Building a global navigation system is of great significance. It will provide a reliable guarantee for navigation and timing in China. The world can also use this system in China." Qi Fazhao said that China's development of navigation and positioning is a manifestation of national capabilities and will also be enhanced. China’s information utilization capability forms a satellite application industry, develops into a strategic emerging industry, enters the market, and truly serves the lives of ordinary people.

Qi Fayu is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and an academician of the International Academy of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He was the chief designer of manned spacecraft systems for China’s manned space project.