China launches last BDS satellite to complete global navigation constellation

China launched the last satellite of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China's Sichuan province at 9:43 am on June 23 (Beijing Time), marking the completion of the deployment of its own global navigation system.

The satellite, the 55th in the family of BeiDou that means "Big Dipper" in Chinese, was successfully sent into the preset orbit by a Long March-3B carrier rocket, according to the launch center.

The launch mission was a complete success, the center said.

The launch on June 23 was the 336th by the Long March rocket series.