Two new satellites, Siwei Gaojing-2 03 and Siwei Gaojing-2 04, have been successfully launched into space using China’s Long March-2C carrier rocket. The rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 7:39 a.m. Beijing Time yesterday, November 8, to embark with the satellites into their desired orbit.
These satellites are the product of the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, and they are part of a commercial microwave mapping network owned by China Siwei Surveying and Mapping Technology Co., Ltd. Equipped with high-precision radar payloads, the two Siwei Gaojing satellites are capable of providing imaging all day, all-weather, high-resolution radar.
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These satellites will complement optical observations from earlier missions, making China’s optical-imagery and SAR capabilities even more productive. SAR allows very detailed imaging of a subject to be collected at any time, regardless of light.
They are likely to improve surveying and mapping efficiencies by 25 percent and will be significantly used in natural resource management, urban safety, disaster monitoring, and maritime activities. Their high-resolution radar images are also expected to be useful for monitoring ecological conditions, agricultural planning, and disaster response management, particularly flood and geological disaster identification and mitigation.
This launch epitomizes China’s increasing satellite capacity and commitment to advancing commercial surveying and mapping services.