Huanjing (satellite)

Summary

China plans to launch eleven Huanjing (Chinese: 环境) satellites for disaster and environmental monitoring ("huanjing" is Chinese for "environment"). The satellites will be capable of visible, infrared, multi-spectral and synthetic-aperture radar imaging.[1]

The first two satellites, Huanjing-1A and Huanjing-1B, were launched on 6 September 2008 on a Long March 2C rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center.[2] In a report dated 3 September 2008, the Associated Press of Pakistan indicated the launch would be conducted 5 September 2008 using a Long March 2C launch vehicle.[3] On 5 September 2008, Aviation Week reported the first launch would be of optical imaging satellites.[4]

Huanjing-1C was launched on 16 November 2012 on a Long March 2C rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. It is the first civilian Chinese remote sensing satellite to use a synthetic-aperture radar as imaging instrument. This S-band synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) was manufactured in Russia by NPO Mashinostroyeniya.[5]

The two satellites, Huanjing-2A and Huanjing-2B, were launched on 27 September 2020 at 03:23 UTC on a Long March 4B launch vehicle from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. The satellites "provide services concerning environmental protection, natural resources, water conservancy, agriculture and forestry", Xinhua said.[6]

Launches edit

Date (UTC) COSPAR ID SCN Launch vehicle Launch site Payload Outcome Comments
6 September 2008, 03:25 2008-041A
2008-041B
33320
33321
Long March 2C Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center Huanjing 1A and 1B Success[7]
19 November 2012, 22:53 2012-064A 38997 Long March 2C Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center Huanjing 1C Success[8] Decayed[9]
27 September 2020, 03:23 2020-067A
2020-067B
46478
46479
Long March 4B Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center Huanjing 2A and 2B Success[10]
12 October 2022, 22:53 2022-132A 54035 Long March 2C Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center Huanjing 2E Success[11]
8 August 2023, 22:53 2023-116A 57519 Long March 2C Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center Huanjing 2F Success[12]

References edit

  1. ^ "Military Power of the People's Republic of China" (PDF). U.S. Department of Defense. 2000. p. 37. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2008.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "First natural disaster monitoring satellites launched by China". NASASpaceFlight.com. 6 September 2008.
  3. ^ "China to launch natural disaster monitoring satellites". 3 September 2008. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011.
  4. ^ Covault, Craig (5 September 2008). "U.S. and China Resume Space Cooperation Talks". Aviation Week.
  5. ^ Marín, Daniel (20 November 2012). "Lanzamiento Larga Marcha CZ-2C (Huanjing-1C)" (in Spanish). Eureka Blog.
  6. ^ "China launches environmental monitoring satellites". Spaceflight Now. 28 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  7. ^ "China launches two natural disaster monitoring satellites". Xinhua. 6 September 2008. Archived from the original on 6 September 2008.
  8. ^ "中国19日成功发射"环境一号"C卫星". 凤凰网. 19 November 2012.
  9. ^ "HJ-1C". N2YO.com. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  10. ^ "HJ 2A, 2B". Gunter's Space Page.
  11. ^ Howell, Elizabeth (13 October 2022). "China launches environmental satellite in 3rd flight in 6 days". Space.com. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  12. ^ "长二丙火箭成功发射环境减灾二号06星-新华网". 新华社. Retrieved 7 September 2023.