China launches new satellite for monitoring environment

China launches a hyperspectral imaging satellite, Gaofen-5, as part of the country’s high-resolution Earth observation project.

Gaofen-5 was launched by Long March 4C rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi Province. The satellite, developed and produced by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, has a designed service life of eight years and will be used to monitor the environment and carry out resources surveys.

Gaofen-5 is the first China-made satellite capable of monitoring air pollution. It dynamically reflects the state of air pollution in China through monitoring air pollutants, greenhouse gases and aerosols. The satellite, which can also detect inland water bodies, land surface ecology, environment, rocks and minerals, provides high-quality and highly reliable spectrum data for the country’s ecological and environment, natural resources and meteorological departments.