China launches group of four Earth-observation radar satellites

China successfully launched a group of four Earth-observation radar satellites, bolstering its space-based monitoring capabilities.

The satellites were deployed into low-Earth orbit aboard a Long March 2D rocket, which lifted off at 2:50 am from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in Shanxi province, as reported by China Daily, a partner of TV BRICS.

The radar satellites are equipped with advanced synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology, enabling high-resolution imaging under all weather conditions, day or night.

These features make the satellites vital for various applications, including natural disaster detection, land resource management, and geological surveys. The onboard autonomous systems also enhance data processing and operational efficiency.

The Long March 2D rocket is a liquid-fuelled launcher capable of delivering payloads of up to 1.3 tonnes into sun-synchronous orbits at altitudes of 700 kilometres.

This launch marked the 553rd mission for China’s Long March rocket series and the nation’s 65th space launch of the year.

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