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April 26, 2018
Long March-11 rocket carrying multiple satellites launch. Image Credit: CASC
China launched its fourth Long March-11 rocket on Thursday, carrying a multiple small satellites into orbit. The launch took place from a mobile launch platform from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 04:42 UTC.
Onboard the LM-11 rocket was the OVS-2 upgraded version of Zhuhai-1 video satellite and four hyperspectral satellites from the OHS-2s series.
Long March-11 launches five Zhuhai-1 satellites
Developed by the Zhuhai Obit Space Science and Technology Co., Ltd., the Zhuhai-1 earth observation satellites are the video component of the Chinese Orbital earth observation system. Two OVS-1 (OVS-1a and OVS-1b) satellites launched on June 16, 2017, constituted the prototype OVS-1 video component of the system. The operational Orbita constellation is to consist of video satellites (OVS-2), hyperspectral satellites (OHS-2) and small personal satellites (OPS-2).
The new up upgraded version of the previously launched video satellites has a resolution of 0.9 meters, which will greatly improve the spatial resolution and data acquisition capabilities of the previous satellites orbited in the system (with a resolution of 1.98 meters). Images obtained cover an area of 25km x 2.7km, approximately 67.5 square kilometers.
Zhuhai-1 (OVS-1). Image Credit: Zhuhai Orbita
The four new hyperspectral satellites have a resolution of 10 meters. This is the first-generation of hyperspectral satellites launched by private enterprises in China, having a broad market potential. Images obtained cover an area of 140km×0.24km, approximately 33.6 square kilometers. The four satellites have a global coverage once every five days.
The OHS-1-01 satellite is also known as ‘Qingkeda-1’ and was developed in cooperation with the Qingdao University of Science and Technology. The OHS-1-03 satellite is also known as ‘Guiyang-1’.
For more information about China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), visit: http://english.spacechina.com/n16421/index.html
For more information about China National Space Administration (CNSA), visit: http://www.cnsa.gov.cn/
Images (mentioned), Video, Text, Credits: NASA Spaceflight.com/Rui C. Barbosa/SciNews/Günter Space Page.
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