Beijing sees political and commercial pay-offs with global navigation system

In the darkest hour before sunrise on April 14, a Long March rocket lifted off from the Xichang space centre in Sichuan , carrying Beijing's ambitions for its rapidly developing space-based navigation system.

On board was the first satellite in its ambitious Compass global positioning system, designed to beam times, positions and navigation signals from an orbit altitude of 21,000km.

When it is complete, before 2017, the 35-satellite constellation will offer military and civilian users real-time services that, at the moment, are dominated by the Global Positioning System (GPS) controlled by the US Department of Defence.

Compass will become the world's fourth global navigation satellite system after GPS, Russia's Glonass and the European Union's Galileo operations.

Apart from delivering political, commercial and technological payoffs for the mainland, it is believed the project could be an answer to the kinds of problems that occurred last year when the United States shut down GPS signals during a mainland military exercise, paralysing many guided weapons.

The mainland has been developing satellite positioning expertise since 2000 from a trial network that consists of four geostationary orbit satellites that hover above the nation and its neighbouring countries.

It also has been taking part in the EU's Galileo project since 2004, contributing not only Euro200 million (HK$2.12 billion) but also research and development of some key technology. For Beijing, Galileo offers the chance to gain valuable experience and expertise in space technology as it tries to pursue its independent satellite programme.