China has recently launched one in its series of Gaofen Earth observation satellites as it proceeds to build out its space infrastructure.
“A Long March 4C rocket launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 11:46 a.m. EDT June 27,” according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
The mission cargo, Gaofen 12 (03), is presently in a near-polar orbit with an average altitude of 390 miles, very identical to that of the previous two Gaofen 12 satellites, which commenced in 2019 and 2021
Very little is known regarding the satellite and its instruments. It is described as a microwave remote sensing satellite by CASC and, according to Chinese state media,” it will be used in a variety of fields including land surveys, urban planning, road network design, crop yield estimation, and disaster relief.”
The new satellite unites with other Gaofen “high resolution” remote sensing satellites, comprising optical and radar satellites, in the China High-resolution Earth Observation System (CHEOS).
