Jiuquan (TDI): China successfully launched two new satellites into space on Monday using a Long March-2C carrier rocket.
The rocket, which took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 7:39 a.m. Beijing Time, placed the Siwei Gaojing-2 03 and Siwei Gaojing-2 04 satellites into their designated orbits.
This launch marks the 547th mission of the Long March rocket series.
Developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, the satellites are part of China Siwei Surveying and Mapping Technology Co., Ltd.’s commercial microwave mapping network, Xinhua reported.
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Equipped with high-precision radar payloads, the Siwei Gaojing satellites are designed to provide all-day, all-weather, high-resolution radar imagery.
The satellites will complement previously launched optical satellites, enhancing China’s capabilities in integrated optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) services.
SAR technology uses radio waves to capture detailed images, regardless of lighting conditions.
The new satellites are expected to improve surveying and mapping efficiency by 25%, with significant applications in natural resource management, urban safety, disaster monitoring, and maritime surveillance.
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Their high-resolution radar images will also aid in ecological monitoring, agricultural planning, and disaster response, particularly in flood and geological disaster identification.
The launch underscores China’s growing capabilities in satellite technology and its commitment to advancing commercial surveying and mapping services.