China launches new camera satellite with 5m resolution

Context

Recently, China has launched a new satellite with a camera capable of taking photos of the ground with a resolution of five meters called “Ziyuan-1 02E” or “Five Meter 02 Optical Satellite”.

• This is the 39th launch of the Longue Marche-4C rocket and the 403rd launch of the entire Long March series.

About the satellite

• The Ziyuan-1 02E weighs approximately 5 kilograms and is equipped with infrared, near-infrared and hyperspectral cameras.
  • The cameras can take panchromatic color images of the Earth.
• The satellite is also part of a China-Africa cooperation project called “Xiwang” (Hope) to popularize science among teenagers. 
• The satellite will work with the five-meter optical satellite 01 and will reduce the revisiting time of Chinese territory from three days to two days.
• Images taken by the satellite duo will help engineers study China’s geological environment and search for minerals.
  • People working in other fields such as transport, agriculture and disaster mitigation will also receive help through the images.