<2007/2/7>

2007年2月3日零时28分,在西昌卫星发射中心用"长征三号甲"运载火箭成功将北斗导航试验卫星送入太空。这是我国发射的第四颗北斗导航试验卫星。

2月3日零时28分，我国在西昌卫星发射中心用“长征三号甲”运载火箭成功将北斗导航试验卫星送入太空。这是我国发射的第四颗北斗导航试验卫星。

3日零时28分，我国在西昌卫星发射中心用“长征三号甲”运载火箭，成功将北斗导航试验卫星送入太空。约24分钟后，星箭分离。西安卫星测控中心传来的数据表明，卫星准确进入预定轨道。 

有关部门负责人介绍说，这次我国发射的是第四颗北斗导航试验卫星。前三颗北斗导航卫星分别于2000年10月31日、12月21日和2003年5月25日发射升空。北斗导航试验系统运行至今工作稳定、状态良好，已在测绘、电信、水利、交通运输、渔业、勘探、森林防火和国家安全等诸多领域逐步发挥重要作用。 

这次发射的卫星，将进一步提高北斗导航试验系统的性能和可靠性，还将进行北斗卫星导航系统（Compass Navigation Satellite System为英文名称，Beidou为中文音译名称）的有关试验。 

在北斗导航试验系统的基础上，我国正在实施建设北斗卫星导航系统，计划2008年左右满足中国及周边地区用户对卫星导航系统的需求，并进行系统组网和试验，逐步扩展为全球卫星导航系统。这个系统将主要用于国家经济建设，为我国的交通运输、气象、石油、海洋、森林防火、灾害预报、通信、公安以及其他特殊行业提供高效的导航定位服务。 

卫星导航系统为人类带来了巨大的社会和经济效益，目前世界上只有少数几个国家能够自主研制生产卫星导航系统。我国自行研制生产的北斗卫星导航系统，不仅具备在任何时间、任何地点为用户确定其所在的地理经纬度和海拔高度的能力，而且在定位性能上有所创新。 

这次发射的卫星和用于发射的“长征三号甲”运载火箭分别由中国航天科技集团公司所属中国空间技术研究院和中国运载火箭技术研究院研制。这是长征系列运载火箭的第95次飞行。

China puts new navigation satellite into orbit
The carrier rocket Long March 3-A blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Feb. 3, 2007. (Xinhua Photo/Li Gang)
XICHANG, Sichuan, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- China successfully put a navigation satellite into orbit early Saturday from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province. 
The carrier rocket, Long March 3-A, blasted off at 0:28 a.m. ( Beijing Time). The satellite separated from the rocket about 24 minutes later. 
Data from the Xi'an satellite monitoring center showed that the satellite had accurately entered its orbit. 
It is China's fourth Beidou (Big Dipper) navigation experimental satellite in orbit. The previous three were sent in space on Oct. 31, 2000, Dec. 21, 2000 and May 25, 2003 respectively. 
Experts said the Beidou satellite navigation experimental system is operating well and has played a significant role in cartography, telecommunications, water conservation, transportation, fishery, prospecting, forest fire monitoring and national security. 
The fourth Beidou navigation satellite, serving as a backup satellite for the Beidou satellite navigation experimental system, may replace the first Beidou satellite, when necessary, continuing to provide all-weather and all-day navigation and positioning information. 
Experts said China is establishing the Compass Navigation Satellite System on the basis of the Beidou satellite navigation experimental system. The compass system will in 2008 fully meet the demand of satellite navigation for clients in China and neighboring regions. 
The Compass Navigation Satellite System will gradually extend to be a global satellite navigation and positioning system after network building and experiments, experts said. 
The compass system will be mainly used for economic purposes, providing efficient navigation and positioning services in transportation, meteorology, petroleum prospecting, forest fire monitoring, disaster forecast, telecommunications and public security, among others. 
China is one of the several countries in the world capable of developing such a system on its own. 
The system can help clients know their location at any time and place with accurate longitude, latitude and altitude data. 
The satellite and carrier rocket were developed respectively by the China Academy of Space Technology and China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, which are under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. 
The launch represents the 95th flight of China's Long March series of rockets.

<来源于:新华社>