Tags: China, Earth Observation, Long March Rocket
Publication: TheHinduBusinessLine.org
Publication Date: 03/29/2013

The Long March 2D rocket during the launch of the first Venezuelan Earth observation satellite. Image credit: Cristóbal Alvarado Minic

China has announced it will launch the first satellite of its high-resolution Earth observation system in April. The satellite data will be mainly used to reduce disasters, protect resources and for national security. It will also support geographic and oceanic surveys and urban transportation management, according to the country’s State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SATIND).

Testing of the satellite and the Long March 2D vehicle, which will take the spacecraft into space, have been completed and the satellite has not entered the launch stage, according to SATIND. China plans to launch five to six satellites before the end of 2015 in order to build a spatial, temporal and spectral high-resolution Earth observation system.

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