GPS satellites are mysterious to most ordinary people.

　　"In fact, satellites are equivalent to the news tree in the past. When a tree is planted on a high ground, when a Japanese devil comes, people will pull the tree down, and everyone on the other side can see it." Beidou Navigation System Chief engineer Sun Jiadong, a scientist known as China's "father of satellites", told a reporter from China News Weekly, "This is information transmission. Satellites have two other functions, namely information acquisition and navigation."

　　Satellite navigation is the most complex of these uses. According to scientists' calculations, if 24 satellites are launched around the earth to form three different orbital planes and weave into a network, then no matter when and where, people can see four stars at the same time. The research and development of the American GPS system is based on this principle.

　　In contrast, the dual-satellite positioning proposed by Chinese scientist Chen Fangyun uses only two satellites to complete the most basic positioning function. "It was set based on China's own needs and economic strength," said Sun Jiadong. "China was just reforming and opening up at that time, and its economic strength was insufficient. Moreover, there was no need to design a global system at that time."

　　As a result, scientists began to work on satellite navigation systems that are only used in China. Since an agreement was reached at the 1986 meeting, research on the Navigation Project has been applying for research grants from different departments. However, the formal establishment of the Beidou program did not wait until 1994.

　　In 1994, all the preliminary demonstration work was basically completed, and the expert group began to write the project application. Because the measurement is the orientation, this Chinese navigation plan is named "Beidou".

　　The project establishment was not all smooth sailing.

　　The first resistance encountered was the funding problem that plagued scientists from the very beginning of research and development. In 1995, relevant departments reported the Beidou plan to the State Council. The State Council approved the plan at the time. "The instructions said that this plan is very important, but it also said that the money may not be so much. Can we consider pre-research first." Bu Qingjun recalled to the reporter of "China News Weekly".

　　The so-called pre-research means that the state allocates a small amount of money for tentative pre-research work, but cannot provide sufficient funds to ensure the completion of the project.

　　After hearing this instruction, Bu Qingjun couldn't sit still. That night, he made a phone call to the leaders of the national authorities. On the phone, he said earnestly, "We can't do pre-research anymore. This project has come to this point. If we do pre-research, it will destroy the project."

　　On the phone, the leader Wang Tongye advised him not to worry. At the regular leadership meeting two days later, he told everyone about Bu Qingjun's thoughts on the phone. After discussion, everyone felt that they should try their best to apply for a formal project.

　　At that time, China's other two satellite plans have been determined, and each of the two plans has a backup satellite indicator. After discussion, everyone decided to allocate the backup star indicators of the first two plans to the Beidou plan. "We have discussed with the two satellite planning teams many times. If you succeed in hitting (satellites), you won't need the backup satellite. If you can't hit it, you have to continue to find problems. So, just use it for us first." Tan Shusen, one of the pioneers and founders of China's satellite navigation and deputy chief engineer of the Beidou Project, recalled to the reporter of "China News Weekly" with a smile.

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