Gaofen Earth observation satellite launched by China

With a new launch on Sunday, China increased the number of Earth- observation satellite in its fleet.

Gaofen 12 (04) observation satellite was on board

In the report from Space.com, at 11:45 a.m., a Long March 4C rocket launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. According to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), EDT on August 20 (1745 GMT; 1:45 a.m. Beijing time on August 21). Insulation tiles that separated from the rocket as it rose into the night sky above Jiuquan in the Gobi Desert were illuminated by the exhaust plume of the Long March 4C.

The Gaofen 12 (04) observation satellite was on board; according to U.S. reports, it is currently in a near-polar orbit at an average altitude of roughly 373 miles (600 kilometers). info on Space Force tracking. In order to align with the orbits of the three other Gaofen 12 spacecraft, which were launched in 2019, 2021, and 2022, the observation satellite is most likely to boost its orbit.

About the satellite and its equipment, nothing is known. The Gaofen 12 satellites, which were previously launched, are classified as microwave remote-sensing observation satellite because they are equipped with synthetic aperture radar payloads.

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The observation satellite will be used in a variety of disciplines

According to Chinese official media, the observation satellite will be used in a variety of disciplines, including land surveys, urban planning, road network design, crop yield estimation, and disaster assistance.

Chinese for “high resolution” is gaofen. The new observation satellite joins a group of Gaofen remote sensing observation satellite known collectively as the China High-resolution Earth Observation System (CHEOS), which includes optical and radar observation satellite with high and medium resolutions in a variety of geostationary and low Earth orbits.

The principal spacecraft manufacturer under China’s state-owned main space contractor, CASC, is the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), which constructed the observation satellite . The CASC’s Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) produced the Long March 4C rocket.

This was China’s 37th launch of the year. According to CASC, it intends to launch more than 200 spacecraft via 60 different launches in 2023, reports Adda 247.

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