China tests superfast satellite that can prevent another MH370 traged

[superadmin]

BEIJING: A Chinese satellite has tested a technology that can offer the most accurate means yet of tracking air traffic from space in the hope of preventing a repeat of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 tragedy, according to a report in the South China Morning Post.

It says each aircraft in the sky emits a radio signal but constantly monitoring all planes over a large area is technically challenging.

“Beihang Kongshi 1, a small satellite in near-Earth orbit, can update the status of an aircraft every eight seconds – about twice as fast as American technology, meaning the tracking is more accurate,” it said, quoting a report in the state-run Science and Technology Daily.

Launched last November, Beihang Kongshi 1’s new radio surveillance technology and hardware, some of it being used in space for the first time, had achieved results that suggested it worked “quite well”, according to the report.

The project is still at an experimental stage, but could lead to a global tracking system involving “hundreds of satellites”, the report said. That would enable airlines to quickly locate a plane even if it lost contact.


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