23rd satellite to support its global navigation and positioning network which is being developed to rival the US Global Positioning System has been launch by China. Yesterday,the 23rd satellite in the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The satellite was put into orbit by a Long March-3C carrier rocket. It was the 229th launch of the Long March carrier rocket.

The report said that, "satellite, after entering its designed work orbit and finishing in-orbit testing, will join 22 others already in orbit and improve the stability of the system, preparing for BDS to offer global coverage".

The BDS satellite system is being developed as an alternative to America's Global Positioning System (GPS).