China to launch eighth orbiter into space

XICHANG, Sichuan - China will launch the eighth orbiter into space in "coming days" as part of its construction of an indigenous satellite navigation and positioning network.

The "Beidou," or Compass, navigation satellite will be launched on a Long March-3A carrier rocket, said an unidentified spokesman for the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

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The satellite and rocket are now in good conditions, according to the spokesman.

The satellite will join seven others already in orbit to form a network, which will eventually consist of 35 satellites.

The network will provide satellite navigation, time and short message services for Asia-Pacific regions by 2012 and global services by 2020.