Our ancestors used stars to guide them on a clear night. Now we have navigation systems (导航系统) to help us find our way, with the latest being the Beidou Navigation Satellite (卫星) System(BDS).
The BDS is completely built by Chinese engineers. With the last satellite from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center flew into space on Jun 23, 2020, the network of 59 satellites has been completed. On July 31, 2020, Beidou started providing full-scale services (全方位服务). It’s difficult to imagine what those satellites can’t do in our daily lives.
When you unlock one of the Hellobike’s bicycles, you are using the BDS. This popular bike-sharing company came out with two new bike models which have the positioning service this year. Users can also find shared bikes more exactly thanks to Beidou.
However, the BDS doesn’t just work on way. As the largest space-based system in China, Beidou uses a special two-way communication system, including its ability to receive messages sent by people from areas with poor communication signals. It isn’t for users to chat online. Instead, it plays a role when disasters like earthquakes happen and communications don’t work.
After the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, all ground-based communication tools couldn’t work. Though Beidou could only send 120 characters(字符) in just one message at that time, communication between these poor areas and helping centers was successful. Now, it can sent 1, 200 Chinese characters in a message. It is widely used in areas such as disaster alarms, and information release.
Now, Beidou is more and more widely used in our everyday life. As SunJiadong, former chief designer of the BDS said, “Beidou can be used in more industries than you can imagine.”
【小题1】In the old days, people use _________ to guide them on a clear night.| A．the moon | B．the sun | C．the BDS | D．stars |
| A．23 | B．31 | C．59 | D．120 |
| A．战争 | B．灾难 | C．选举 | D．奇迹 |
| A．The BDS first started working on June 23, 2020. |
| B．The BDS can provide us with a lot of helpful services. |
| C．People can find their lost bicycles thanks to Beidou. |
| D．The BDS can send 120 Chinese characters in a message now. |
| A．the BDS | B．great engineers | C．shared bikes | D．an earthquake |
