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China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationLaunch SuccessfulEarth ScienceLong March 4B
Launched 2025-12-16 03:17 UTCLaunch Complex 9, Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Success
Reached Sun-Synchronous Orbit
Worldwide
307th
orbital launch attempt in 2025
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
63rd
launch this year
Launch Complex 9
1st
launch from this pad this year
Pad turnaround
364 d 8 h
since the pad's previous launch
The ZY-3 (Ziyuan-3, 'Resource-3') series represents China's first high-resolution, stereoscopic mapping satellites for civilian use.
The second satellite is managed by the Satellite Surveying and Mapping Application Center (SASMAC).
The imaging payload consists of a three-line camera array and a multispectral imager.
The three-line panchromatic camera array to acquire stereoscopic imagery consists of three telescopic cameras with one oriented to the nadir and the other two each offset by 22° forward and backward in flight direction. The stereo mapping camera of ZY-3 has a resolution of 2.1 m for the nadir camera, and 2.6 m for the offset cameras. The swath width is 51 km.
The multispectral imager for environmental and vegetation monitoring consists of a three-mirror telescope and a cooled detector system sensitive to four wavelength bands to capture full-color imagery as well as near-infrared data. The ground resolution of this system is 5.8 m.
Launch Provider
Government · China · Founded 1999 · Chairman & President Lei Fanpei
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is the main contractor for the Chinese space program. It is state-owned and has a number of subordinate entities which design, develop and manufacture a range of spacecraft, launch vehicles, strategic and tactical missile systems, and ground equipment. It was officially established in July 1999 as part of a Chinese government reform drive, having previously been one part of the former China Aerospace Corporation. Various incarnations of the program date back to 1956.
Launches
621
Successful
605
97%
Landings
1
of 2
Upcoming
7
scheduled
·
Launch success.
Cosmic_Penguin
·
Added launch per NOTAMs; Payload and launch vehicle identities uncertain.
Cosmic_Penguin
Height
44.1m
Diameter
3.4m
To low Earth orbit
4,200kg
Liftoff thrust
2,961kN
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