China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System completes in-orbit upgrade

BEIJING, July 31 (Xinhua) -- The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) has wrapped up an in-orbit upgrade to provide higher-quality services, according to the China Satellite Navigation Office (CSNO).

While ensuring stable operations, the system will develop new navigation technologies in order to provide more reliable positioning, navigation and timing services for global users, the office said.

As a mature, fully functional and high-performance global satellite navigation system, the BDS currently has 50 operational satellites in orbit. It offers a global positioning accuracy of better than 10 meters, velocity measurement accuracy better than 0.2 meters per second, and timing accuracy within 20 nanoseconds.

Through its Precise Point Positioning (PPP) service signal, it can realize horizontal positioning accuracy better than 0.3 meters and vertical accuracy better than 0.6 meters.

According to earlier reports, the upgrade saw adjustments made to optimize the operational status of certain satellites. ■