In 1983, aerospace expert CHEN Fangyun creatively put forward a design scheme of regional navigation and positioning by using two geo-stationary orbit satellites. This was the "Beidou-1" satellite positioning system, also known as the double satellite positioning system.

This system was composed of three geosynchronous orbit satellites, central control system, calibration system and various user computers. Its time calibration station was located in National Time Service Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

On October 31 and December 21, 2000, China successfully launched two "BeiDou-1" navigation and positioning satellites. On May 5, 2003, the third BeiDou-1 navigation and positioning satellite was launched into space. The three satellites formed complete satellite navigation and positioning system, which ensured that all-weather and all-time satellite navigation information can be provided. The three-dimensional positioning accuracy was about tens of meters, and the time service accuracy was about 100 nanoseconds.

Beidou-1 is a satellite navigation system independently developed and constructed by China. It is a successful, practical and low investment start-up system.

In addition to navigation, positioning and timing, the system also has the function of short message communication. The disadvantage is that it cannot cover the Polar Regions, and the positioning accuracy near the equator is poor, and it can only be two-dimensional active positioning, which cannot meet the requirements of high dynamic and confidential users, and the number of users is limited.