EYE IN THE SKY

A Long March-3b carrier rocket bearing the last satellite of the Beidou Navigation Satellite System blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province, southwest China, at 9:43 a.m. on June 23.

The launch of the 55th satellite completes the in-orbit construction of China’s largest space-based system and one of four global navigation networks, along with the United States’ GPS, Russia’s GLONASS and the EU’S Galileo.

The new satellite will join the other satellites in providing users around the globe high-accuracy navigation, positioning and timing services, the China Satellite Navigation Office said.