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Satellites The regional BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS-2, earlier referred to as COMPASS) originally comprised a total of 15 launched satellites out of which 13 were fully operational in 2015. BDS-2 replacement satellites have been launched in 2016, 2018, and 2019. In mid 2015, China started the build-up of the 3rd generation BeiDou system (BDS-3) which shall offer a fully global navigation service by 2020. In 2015/2016, five BDS-3S in-orbit validation satellites have been launched. Build-up of the operational BeiDou-3 constellation was delayed by launcher issues and finally started in November 2017. The nominal number of 24 BeiDou-3 MEO satellites was reached in December 2019.
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