China advanced its Earth observation capabilities today with the successful launch of the Ziyuan III 04 satellite from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi Province. The Long March-4B carrier rocket lifted off at 11:17 a.m. Beijing Time, marking the 617th mission for the Long March series.
Developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, the satellite will join the Ziyuan III 02 and 03 satellites already in orbit to form a high-precision observation constellation. Equipped with a stereoscopic mapping camera, multispectral camera, and laser altimeter, it will capture high-resolution 3D imagery critical for geographic data collection and natural resource management.
Officials emphasized the satellite's role in supporting land-use planning, environmental monitoring, and law enforcement through precise terrain modeling. The launch underscores China's growing technological prowess in space-based resource management systems as global demand for geospatial data surges.
