ZIYUAN-1 02E

ZIYUAN-1 02E

Context:

On December 27, 2021, China launched an Earth observation satellite named “Ziyuan-1 02E” into space.

Significance of the launch:

• For exploring natural resources the Ziyuan-1 02E satellite was launched.

Key Highlights:

• China also launched a smaller satellite, which will be used for teaching geography at a school in Beijing.
• Both the satellites were launched from the Taiyuan Launch Center in Shanxi Province, aboard the Long March 4C rocket.

Ziyuan (ZY):

• Ziyuan means “Resource”.
• It is a series of remote-sensing satellites which China uses to capture high-resolution images that can be used for surveying Earth resources, ecological and land use monitoring and disaster management.

About Ziyuan-1 02E:

• It is equipped with a high-resolution infrared camera, a multi-spectrum imager and a long-wavelength infrared camera. 
• It is designed for an eight-year lifespan in Earth orbit. 
• The Ziyuan-1 02E is believed to be similar to the build of the Ziyuan-1 02D satellite launched in September 2019.
• A high-resolution camera will be able to produce images with a resolution of up to 5 meters when working in panchromatic mode.
• When working in multispectral mode, it can produce images in three bands with a resolution of up to 10 meters. 
• The hyperspectral payload can image across all 166 spectral bands.