China sends two satellites of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) into space. (Photo: Xinhua)

China sent two satellites of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) into orbit on Saturday.

Launched at 8:55 am from Southwest China’s Xichang launch center, the 50th and 51st of the BDS satellite family were carried by a Long March-3B rocket. This is the 319th mission of the rocket family.

The twin satellites entered their planned orbits after flying over 3 hours and will undergo further tests before joining the constellation.