Tags: China, Earth Observation, Ziyuan, Remote-Sensing
Publication: UPI.com
Publication Date: 01/11/2013

Ziyuan III satellite. Image credit: ChinaNews.com

China has announced that Ziyuan III, its first high-resolution, stereo mapping satellite, meets international standards, freeing the country from relying on imported satellite images.

Reports indicate that before Ziyuan III started beaming data, China imported more than 90 percent of its remote-sensing data. The country is planning to launch a second Ziyuan III satellite in early 2014 and it is working on three follow-up spacecraft, according to reports. China’s ultimate goal is to build a complete remote-sensing mapping satellite system within 10 to 15 years that allows real-time data on any point on Earth to be retrieved thorough the day.

The year-old Ziyuan III has an approximate operational life of five years and it provides imagery for China’s natural-disaster prevention, land-resources surveys, agricultural development, urban planning and water-resources management.

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