A new Chinese satellite was recently launched to increase the number of high-definition observation satellites available to state authorities.
According to a Space.com report, this latest development, the Gaofen-12 (02) satellite, the second of its kind, reportedly launched on March 20 at 6:45 pm EDT, or 6:45 am on March 31 local time.
The space report said the rocket used for the launch was a Long March 4C. Video footage from the said takeoff which CGTN Global Business posted, shows insulation tiles that fall off the rocket as the booster's red glare fills the predawn sky.
In a statement, state media provider Xinhua said the satellite will be used in urban planning, crop yield estimation, land surveys, road network design, urban planning, and even disaster relief. It also noted that the satellite successfully entered its planned orbit.
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Gaofen-12 (02) Now in 600-Kilometer Sun Synchronous Orbit
According to SpaceNews, the Stated States satellite tracking proposed that the satellite is now in a 600-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.
This means that the satellite has a consistent lighting condition on Earth underneath. The said report also specified that Gaofen-12 (02) possibly has some uses in the military.
Resolution capabilities, as well as other information, have been reported for lower-numbered series satellites of the Gaofen, the space news site said.
Nevertheless, information for these satellites numbered "8 and higher," has not been openly released, proposing the satellites are intended for national defense purposes.
This new satellite is set to join other radar and optical remote sensing satellites in the Gaofen series for CHEOS or the China High-resolution Earth Observation System.
Gaofen-12 (01)
A pioneer of this series, Gaofen-1 launched in 2013 with functionalities in high-resolutions, multispectral and panchromatic imaging.
This particular launch marked its eighth attempt this year by China, with seven of the earlier launches successfully taking place.
China is hoping to hose over 40 launches in 2021, Space News said. Before the COVID-19 crisis, China was launching several satellites with just a few hours of interval.
Earlier on, in 2019, exactly on Thanksgiving, Chin launched the Gaofen-12 satellite into the orbit of Earth, capping off the country's very busy month.
This then-new Earth observation satellite, Xinhua also reported, flew from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center to space in the Shanxi Province of China.
Successful Takeoff
As mentioned earlier, Gaofen-12 successfully launched on November 28, at 7:52 am Beijing time or 6:52 pm EDT on November 27.
This space rocket took off on a Long March-4C rocket, which marked the 320th flight for this type of space rocket.
Footage at that time, from Chinese television station CCTV exhibited the rocket smoothly lifting off into a cloudy sky, flames coming out from underneath the booster.
The said footage showcased engineers too, as well as other officials who closely monitored the progress of the rocket into orbit.
Based on the CCTV's translation, the unnamed engineer said, he hereby announced that the launch mission was a success.
As part of China's HD Earth observation initiative, what was described as a 'microwave-sensing satellite' is capable of producing images with a resolution of better than three feet.
A similar report is shown on Rocket Launch Short's YouTube video below:
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