* Astronomy

China is expected to launch two navigation satellites early next year as part of a plan to build a global navigation positioning network.
The launch of the two "Beidou" (Compass) satellites, scheduled for the beginning of 2007, is expected to cover China and parts of neighbouring countries by 2008, before being expanded into a global system.
China has already sent three Compass navigation test satellites into orbit between 2000 and 2003.
The planned network will be a constellation of 35 satellites, including five geo-stationary Earth orbit satellites and 30 medium Earth orbit satellites.

Source Xinhua