Gaofen 5 and Gaofen 6 Satellites Put into Operation

China put the Gaofen 5 and 6 satellites of China High Resolution Earth Observation System into operation on March 21, 2019. This innovative system of the high resolution program marks the formation of China's hyperspectral ability which is the main characteristic of its space-based Earth observation capability utilizing high spatial resolution, high temporal resolution and hyperspectral resolution solutions.

The Gaofen 5 and 6 were organized by the State Administration of Science,Technology and Industry for National Defense. Their satellite systems were developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology and the China Academy of Space Technology respectively. The carrier rocket was developed by SAST.

Gaofen 5 was launched on May 9,2018 and Gaofen 6 was launched on June 2, 2018.

Gaofen 5 has the highest spectral resolution of China's remote sensing satellites, and also the world's first full-spectrum hyperspectral satellite for comprehensive observation of the atmosphere and land. It can provide quality and highly reliable hyperspectral data to industries for applications such as environmental monitoring, resource exploration, and disaster prevention and mitigation, which is of strategic significance to mastering the autonomy of hyperspectral remote sensing information resources and meeting national needs.

Gaofen 6 is a high-resolution optical satellite able to perform both general and detailed surveys with high flexibility. The constellation of Gaofen 1 and Gaofen 6 realizes the revisit of China's land area in 2 days, improving the scale and efficiency of remote sensing data collection and self-sufficiency of data by domestic remote sensing satellites.

During the in-orbit test, the two satellites provided data monitor and control for crop and atmosphere monitoring,and emergency observation services for internal and external disasters including the Daxing'anling forest fire in June 2018 and the tsunami in Indonesia in September 2018.

Operation of the Gaofen 5 and 6 will greatly improve China's Earth observation ability, provide strong space information support in the task of national pollution prevention and control,ecological construction and green development, rural revitalization and poverty alleviation, and the development of the Belt and Road Initiative. It is of great significance for the development of the economy and society, and the guarantee of people's livelihood and safety.

Data from the Gaofen satellites has been widely used in 20 industries and 30 provinces in China and made important achievements in the fields of land,environmental protection, agriculture,forestry, surveying and mapping. 30 provincial-level Gaofen data and application centers have been set up which have obtained a large number of application results, providing support for promoting the development of the regional economy and enhancing the ability of modern governance for local governments.

The Gaofen 7 satellite will be launched at the end of 2019. The focus of the Gaofen project will now shift to the construction of the application systems.

China will strengthen the application of the Gaofen 1 - 6 to make the maximum benefit of multi-satellite systematization applications, further improve the sharing channel of Gaofen data, continuously develop the product system, popularize and apply the effective Gaofen mode to the implementation of civil space infrastructure, and promote more and more remote sensing data use to serve the country and the world, making a greater contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative. (MIAO Shanshan/China Space News)