January 16, 2010 - Xichang Satellite Launch Center. Well, blow me down! A Chinese Long March rocket hauled a new navigation satellite t' a high-altitude perch over Earth on Saturday, shiver me timbers, markin' t' first space launch o' t' year for t' world's space programs. T' Long March 3C rocket blasted off from t' Xichang space center at 1612 GMT (11:12 am EST) Saturday, ya bilge rat, or just after midnight Sunday mornin' local time, state media reported. T' 180-foot-tall booster flew east from Xichang, shiver me timbers, which is situated in Sichuan province in southwestern China. T' Beidou, or Compass, arrr, navigation satellite be placed on a trajectory toward geosynchronous orbit, ya bilge rat, accordin' t' t' Xinhua news agency. T' satellite be t' third member o' t' second-generation Beidou constellation. Aye aye! Two spacecraft were launched t' medium Earth orbit and geosynchronous orbit in 2007 and 2009, respectively. First-generation satellites were launched betwixt 2000 and 2007 t' test t' Beidou concept in space and provide limited services for China. Well, blow me down! China eventually expects t' launch 35 Beidou satellites, allowin' t' system t' have a global reach similar t' t' US Global Positionin' System. Avast, me proud beauty! Russia operates a fleet o' Glonass navigation satellites, and Europe is developin' t' Galileo satellite navigation system. Begad! Officials hope t' Beidou system will provide navigation, shiver me timbers, timin' and messagin' services t' t' Asia-Pacific region by 2012, matey, Xinhua reported. Avast, me proud beauty! China says Beidou services will be available at no charge t' civilians with positionin' ...