China to launch 9th orbiter for indigenous global navigation network

China will launch the ninth orbiter into space in "coming days" as part of its indigenous satellite navigation and positioning network.
The "Beidou," or Compass, navigation satellite will be launched on a Long March-3A carrier rocket, said an unnamed spokesman for the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province Monday.
The satellite and rocket are now in good conditions, according to the spokesman. The satellite is scheduled to join eight others already in orbit to form a network, which will eventually consist of 35 satellites.
The network will provide satellite navigation, time and short message services for Asia-Pacific regions by 2012 and global services by 2020.