China took one step toward its goal of building an independent global navigation network capable of rivaling foreign systems with the successful launch of a new orbiter into space on January 17.

It was the third orbiter China has launched for the network, also known as Beidou or the Compass system, and was carried by a Long March 3III rocket into geostationary orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

It joined two others already in orbit to form a network, which will eventually include 35 satellites and in 2020 will be capable of providing global navigation services to users around the world.

The Chinese Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. and the Chinese Academy of Carrier Rocket Technology developed the new orbiter and the carrier rocket, respectively.