Ziyuan III satellite sends back images

The Ziyuan III satellite has sent back its first set of visual data days after the orbiter was successfully launched on January 9 to produce high-resolution imagery for civilian use.

According to a statement released Thursday by the National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation, the administration has made hi-res imagery based on analysis of the data and posted it on tianditu.cn, a map website made by the administration with independent intellectual property rights.

The visual data covered an area of 210,000 square kilometers that included the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Fujian, said the statement.

The image quality produced from this data is even higher than that achieved by overseas satellites with the same resolution, said the statement, adding that ongoing tests on the satellite might further improve its image quality.

The satellite is expected to compete with its foreign counterparts that currently dominate the country's hi-res remote-sensing and mapping market.

According to the center, the satellite is tasked with offering services to aid the country's land-resources surveys, natural-disaster prevention, agriculture development, water-resources management, and urban planning.

The orbiter was developed and produced by the China Academy of Space Technology, a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

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China launches meteorological satellite Fengyun-II 07

China successfully launched a meteorological satellite, Fengyun-II 07, Friday morning, from southwest Xichang Satellite Launch Center

China successfully launched meteorological satellite Fengyun-II 07 at 8:56 am Friday from its southwestern Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

Capable of providing continuous meteorological monitoring and sending maritime and water resource data, the satellite is expected to play an important role in weather forecasting and disaster reduction.

Developed and produced by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the orbiter will collect data for the China Meteorological Administration.

The Long March 3A rocket that was used to carry the satellite into space is a product of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, another CASC subsidiary. Friday's launch marked the 157th Long March rocket launch.

Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

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China launches Ziyuan III satellite

China successfully launched the Ziyuan III satellite Monday from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi province.
The satellite, a high-resolution remote-sensing satellite for civilian use, was launched at 11:17 am aboard a Long March 4B rocket, according to a statement from the center.

The satellite, weighing 2650 kg, entered an orbit of 500 km above the Earth about 12 minutes after it was launched. It has a designed life expectancy of five years.
According to the center, the satellite is tasked with offering services to aid the country's land-resources surveys, natural-disaster prevention, agriculture development, water-resources management, and urban planning.
The rocket also carried a satellite from Luxemburg, according to the launch center.
The orbiter was developed and produced by the China Academy of Space Technology, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
The Long March 4B rocket is developed by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, another CASC subsidiary. Monday's mission marked the 156th flight of China's Long March series of carrier rockets.

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