{
  "id": "beidou",
  "name": "BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS-3)",
  "aliases": [
    "BDS",
    "Compass"
  ],
  "domain": "space",
  "country": "CHN",
  "category": "Navigation satellite constellation",
  "status": "in-service",
  "fielded": 2020,
  "operators": [
    "CHN"
  ],
  "summary": "China's global navigation system, completed in 2020 with a hybrid GEO, IGSO and MEO constellation.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "orbit_regime",
      "v": "MEO, IGSO and GEO",
      "src": [
        "iac-beidou"
      ],
      "conf": "high"
    },
    {
      "k": "sats_count",
      "v": 30,
      "src": [
        "iac-beidou"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "note": "24 MEO, 3 IGSO, 3 GEO"
    },
    {
      "k": "altitude_km",
      "v": 21528,
      "src": [
        "iac-beidou"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "note": "MEO; GEO and IGSO at 35,786 km"
    },
    {
      "k": "orbit_planes",
      "v": 3,
      "src": [
        "iac-beidou"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "note": "MEO"
    },
    {
      "k": "inclination_deg",
      "v": 55,
      "src": [
        "iac-beidou"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "note": "MEO and IGSO"
    },
    {
      "k": "design_life_yr",
      "v": [
        10,
        15
      ],
      "src": [
        "iac-beidou"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "note": "MEO about 10 years; GEO/IGSO about 15"
    },
    {
      "k": "mass_kg",
      "v": 850,
      "src": [
        "iac-beidou"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "note": "MEO; GEO/IGSO 828 kg"
    },
    {
      "k": "on_orbit",
      "v": 54,
      "src": [
        "celestrak-gp"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "note": "Payloads with current element sets in the public catalog, active or not."
    },
    {
      "k": "active_sats",
      "v": 54,
      "src": [
        "celestrak-gp"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "note": "Count in the CelesTrak active satellites list, which estimates operational status."
    },
    {
      "k": "perigee_km",
      "v": [
        21462,
        35776
      ],
      "src": [
        "celestrak-gp"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "note": "Active satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08."
    },
    {
      "k": "apogee_km",
      "v": [
        21532,
        36470
      ],
      "src": [
        "celestrak-gp"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "note": "Active satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08."
    },
    {
      "k": "period_min",
      "v": [
        773.1,
        1436.4
      ],
      "src": [
        "celestrak-gp"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "note": "Active satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08."
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [],
  "variants": [],
  "art": "satellite",
  "image": null,
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-11-08",
      "change": "Entry created from cited open sources"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-11-08",
      "change": "Orbital elements from CelesTrak GP data (epoch about 2026-11-08): 54 catalogued, 54 active."
    }
  ],
  "satellites": [
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-2 IGSO-1",
      "norad": 36828,
      "cospar": "2010-036A",
      "perigee_km": 35551,
      "apogee_km": 36021,
      "inclination_deg": 54.31,
      "period_min": 1436.1,
      "epoch": "2026-11-04",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2010-07-31"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-2 G4",
      "norad": 37210,
      "cospar": "2010-057A",
      "perigee_km": 35744,
      "apogee_km": 35829,
      "inclination_deg": 4,
      "period_min": 1436.1,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2010-10-31"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-2 IGSO-2",
      "norad": 37256,
      "cospar": "2010-068A",
      "perigee_km": 35533,
      "apogee_km": 36029,
      "inclination_deg": 47.3,
      "period_min": 1435.8,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2010-12-17"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-2 IGSO-3",
      "norad": 37384,
      "cospar": "2011-013A",
      "perigee_km": 35636,
      "apogee_km": 35933,
      "inclination_deg": 62.61,
      "period_min": 1436,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2011-04-09"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-2 IGSO-4",
      "norad": 37763,
      "cospar": "2011-038A",
      "perigee_km": 35111,
      "apogee_km": 36470,
      "inclination_deg": 54.6,
      "period_min": 1436.3,
      "epoch": "2026-11-05",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2011-07-26"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-2 IGSO-5",
      "norad": 37948,
      "cospar": "2011-073A",
      "perigee_km": 35304,
      "apogee_km": 36273,
      "inclination_deg": 47.42,
      "period_min": 1436.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2011-12-01"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-2 G5",
      "norad": 38091,
      "cospar": "2012-008A",
      "perigee_km": 35744,
      "apogee_km": 35828,
      "inclination_deg": 3.93,
      "period_min": 1436.1,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2012-02-24"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-2 M3",
      "norad": 38250,
      "cospar": "2012-018A",
      "perigee_km": 21462,
      "apogee_km": 21595,
      "inclination_deg": 55.63,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2012-04-29"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-2 M4",
      "norad": 38251,
      "cospar": "2012-018B",
      "perigee_km": 21486,
      "apogee_km": 21570,
      "inclination_deg": 55.53,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2012-04-29"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-2 M6",
      "norad": 38775,
      "cospar": "2012-050B",
      "perigee_km": 21499,
      "apogee_km": 21557,
      "inclination_deg": 56.67,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-06",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2012-09-18"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-2 G6",
      "norad": 38953,
      "cospar": "2012-059A",
      "perigee_km": 35757,
      "apogee_km": 35816,
      "inclination_deg": 4.78,
      "period_min": 1436.1,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2012-10-25"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3S IGSO-1S",
      "norad": 40549,
      "cospar": "2015-019A",
      "perigee_km": 35626,
      "apogee_km": 35945,
      "inclination_deg": 48.92,
      "period_min": 1436,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2015-03-30"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3S M2S",
      "norad": 40748,
      "cospar": "2015-037A",
      "perigee_km": 21494,
      "apogee_km": 21562,
      "inclination_deg": 54.74,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2015-07-25"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3S M1S",
      "norad": 40749,
      "cospar": "2015-037B",
      "perigee_km": 21519,
      "apogee_km": 21533,
      "inclination_deg": 54.74,
      "period_min": 773.1,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2015-07-25"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3S IGSO-2S",
      "norad": 40938,
      "cospar": "2015-053A",
      "perigee_km": 35514,
      "apogee_km": 36059,
      "inclination_deg": 49.01,
      "period_min": 1436.1,
      "epoch": "2026-11-04",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2015-09-29"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-2 IGSO-6",
      "norad": 41434,
      "cospar": "2016-021A",
      "perigee_km": 35516,
      "apogee_km": 36057,
      "inclination_deg": 60.43,
      "period_min": 1436.1,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2016-03-29"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-2 G7",
      "norad": 41586,
      "cospar": "2016-037A",
      "perigee_km": 35766,
      "apogee_km": 35809,
      "inclination_deg": 2.08,
      "period_min": 1436.1,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2016-06-12"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M1",
      "norad": 43001,
      "cospar": "2017-069A",
      "perigee_km": 21506,
      "apogee_km": 21550,
      "inclination_deg": 56.82,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-06",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2017-11-05"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M2",
      "norad": 43002,
      "cospar": "2017-069B",
      "perigee_km": 21513,
      "apogee_km": 21543,
      "inclination_deg": 56.82,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2017-11-05"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M7",
      "norad": 43107,
      "cospar": "2018-003A",
      "perigee_km": 21521,
      "apogee_km": 21536,
      "inclination_deg": 54.2,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2018-01-11"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M8",
      "norad": 43108,
      "cospar": "2018-003B",
      "perigee_km": 21515,
      "apogee_km": 21541,
      "inclination_deg": 54.19,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2018-01-11"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M4",
      "norad": 43207,
      "cospar": "2018-018A",
      "perigee_km": 21516,
      "apogee_km": 21540,
      "inclination_deg": 56.78,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2018-02-12"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M3",
      "norad": 43208,
      "cospar": "2018-018B",
      "perigee_km": 21513,
      "apogee_km": 21543,
      "inclination_deg": 56.78,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2018-02-12"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M9",
      "norad": 43245,
      "cospar": "2018-029A",
      "perigee_km": 21524,
      "apogee_km": 21533,
      "inclination_deg": 54.06,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2018-03-29"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M10",
      "norad": 43246,
      "cospar": "2018-029B",
      "perigee_km": 21519,
      "apogee_km": 21538,
      "inclination_deg": 54.06,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2018-03-29"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-2 IGSO-7",
      "norad": 43539,
      "cospar": "2018-057A",
      "perigee_km": 35335,
      "apogee_km": 36245,
      "inclination_deg": 55.21,
      "period_min": 1436.3,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2018-07-09"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M5",
      "norad": 43581,
      "cospar": "2018-062A",
      "perigee_km": 21521,
      "apogee_km": 21536,
      "inclination_deg": 54.08,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2018-07-29"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M6",
      "norad": 43582,
      "cospar": "2018-062B",
      "perigee_km": 21506,
      "apogee_km": 21550,
      "inclination_deg": 54.08,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2018-07-29"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M12",
      "norad": 43602,
      "cospar": "2018-067A",
      "perigee_km": 21501,
      "apogee_km": 21555,
      "inclination_deg": 54.18,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2018-08-24"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M11",
      "norad": 43603,
      "cospar": "2018-067B",
      "perigee_km": 21512,
      "apogee_km": 21545,
      "inclination_deg": 54.17,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2018-08-24"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M13",
      "norad": 43622,
      "cospar": "2018-072A",
      "perigee_km": 21515,
      "apogee_km": 21541,
      "inclination_deg": 56.75,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2018-09-19"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M14",
      "norad": 43623,
      "cospar": "2018-072B",
      "perigee_km": 21521,
      "apogee_km": 21535,
      "inclination_deg": 56.76,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2018-09-19"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M16",
      "norad": 43647,
      "cospar": "2018-078A",
      "perigee_km": 21509,
      "apogee_km": 21547,
      "inclination_deg": 53.96,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2018-10-15"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M15",
      "norad": 43648,
      "cospar": "2018-078B",
      "perigee_km": 21519,
      "apogee_km": 21538,
      "inclination_deg": 53.96,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-06",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2018-10-15"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 G1",
      "norad": 43683,
      "cospar": "2018-085A",
      "perigee_km": 35769,
      "apogee_km": 35803,
      "inclination_deg": 2.76,
      "period_min": 1436.1,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2018-11-01"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M17",
      "norad": 43706,
      "cospar": "2018-093A",
      "perigee_km": 21510,
      "apogee_km": 21547,
      "inclination_deg": 54.16,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2018-11-18"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M18",
      "norad": 43707,
      "cospar": "2018-093B",
      "perigee_km": 21509,
      "apogee_km": 21548,
      "inclination_deg": 54.16,
      "period_min": 773.3,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2018-11-18"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 IGSO-1",
      "norad": 44204,
      "cospar": "2019-023A",
      "perigee_km": 35654,
      "apogee_km": 35903,
      "inclination_deg": 58.89,
      "period_min": 1435.7,
      "epoch": "2026-11-03",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2019-04-20"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-2 G8",
      "norad": 44231,
      "cospar": "2019-027A",
      "perigee_km": 35746,
      "apogee_km": 35826,
      "inclination_deg": 2.02,
      "period_min": 1436.1,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2019-05-17"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 IGSO-2",
      "norad": 44337,
      "cospar": "2019-035A",
      "perigee_km": 35629,
      "apogee_km": 35953,
      "inclination_deg": 55.25,
      "period_min": 1436.3,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2019-06-24"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M24",
      "norad": 44542,
      "cospar": "2019-061A",
      "perigee_km": 21499,
      "apogee_km": 21557,
      "inclination_deg": 54.39,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-04",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2019-09-22"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M23",
      "norad": 44543,
      "cospar": "2019-061B",
      "perigee_km": 21510,
      "apogee_km": 21546,
      "inclination_deg": 54.39,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-06",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2019-09-22"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 IGSO-3",
      "norad": 44709,
      "cospar": "2019-073A",
      "perigee_km": 35599,
      "apogee_km": 35987,
      "inclination_deg": 54.58,
      "period_min": 1436.4,
      "epoch": "2026-10-29",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2019-11-04"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M22",
      "norad": 44793,
      "cospar": "2019-078A",
      "perigee_km": 21513,
      "apogee_km": 21544,
      "inclination_deg": 53.8,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2019-11-23"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M21",
      "norad": 44794,
      "cospar": "2019-078B",
      "perigee_km": 21519,
      "apogee_km": 21538,
      "inclination_deg": 53.78,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2019-11-23"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M19",
      "norad": 44864,
      "cospar": "2019-090A",
      "perigee_km": 21480,
      "apogee_km": 21576,
      "inclination_deg": 56.69,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2019-12-16"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M20",
      "norad": 44865,
      "cospar": "2019-090B",
      "perigee_km": 21489,
      "apogee_km": 21567,
      "inclination_deg": 56.69,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2019-12-16"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 G2",
      "norad": 45344,
      "cospar": "2020-017A",
      "perigee_km": 35776,
      "apogee_km": 35797,
      "inclination_deg": 2.7,
      "period_min": 1436.1,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2020-03-09"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 G3",
      "norad": 45807,
      "cospar": "2020-040A",
      "perigee_km": 35766,
      "apogee_km": 35806,
      "inclination_deg": 2.8,
      "period_min": 1436.1,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2020-06-23"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 G4",
      "norad": 56564,
      "cospar": "2023-066A",
      "perigee_km": 35765,
      "apogee_km": 35809,
      "inclination_deg": 0.47,
      "period_min": 1436.1,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2023-05-17"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M28",
      "norad": 58654,
      "cospar": "2023-207A",
      "perigee_km": 21524,
      "apogee_km": 21532,
      "inclination_deg": 55.88,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2023-12-26"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M26",
      "norad": 58655,
      "cospar": "2023-207B",
      "perigee_km": 21520,
      "apogee_km": 21536,
      "inclination_deg": 55.89,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2023-12-26"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M25",
      "norad": 61186,
      "cospar": "2024-168B",
      "perigee_km": 21514,
      "apogee_km": 21542,
      "inclination_deg": 54.34,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2024-09-19"
    },
    {
      "name": "BEIDOU-3 M27",
      "norad": 61187,
      "cospar": "2024-168C",
      "perigee_km": 21523,
      "apogee_km": 21533,
      "inclination_deg": 54.34,
      "period_min": 773.2,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2024-09-19"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/beidou.html",
  "sources": {
    "iac-beidou": {
      "title": "BeiDou (GNSS guide)",
      "publisher": "Information and Analysis Center for PNT (Roscosmos)",
      "url": "https://glonass-iac.ru/guide/gnss/beidou_eng.php",
      "published": null,
      "tier": 2,
      "checked": "2026-11-08"
    },
    "celestrak-gp": {
      "title": "NORAD GP element sets (current data)",
      "publisher": "CelesTrak (data from the U.S. Space Force 18th/19th Space Defense Squadron catalog)",
      "url": "https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/",
      "published": "2026-11-08",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-11-08"
    }
  }
}