China Launches World’s First Geosynchronous Orbit Radar Satellite of its Kind Written 15 August 2023
A Long March rocket lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. | Credit: Associated Press–©
Space News reports that China “launched what is thought to be the world’s first geosynchronous orbit synthetic aperture radar satellite on Saturday.” A Long March 3B rocket “lifted off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China at 1:36 p.m. Eastern (1736 UTC) Aug. 12.” The Land Exploration-4 01 (Ludi Tance-4 (01)) satellite successfully “entered geosynchronous transfer orbit, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. … (CASC) announced within an hour of liftoff.” Few details of the satellite “were provided by CASC.” However the group’s “blue book” outlining plans for 2023 released in January noted the launch of a “high-orbit 20-meter [resolution] SAR satellite.” The L-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite “will provide all-day, all-weather observation of China and surrounding areas, boosting the country’s disaster prevention, reduction, and relief capabilities.”
Full Story (Space News)