The Full Picture

[

] 29

The main use of HY satellite is to detect the marine environmen-

tal parameters of the China Seas, including chlorophyll

concentration, suspended sediment concentration, dissolved organic

matter and pollutants, as well as sea surface temperature. The satel-

lite will play an important role in developing and utilizing the marine

bio-resources, constructing and managing the harbour, detecting

ocean pollution, investigating and developing coastal resources and

studying global environmental changes.

Other satellites

A small satellite called Beijing No. 1, created with the cooperation of

Beijing Land-view Mapping Information Technology Co., Ltd. and

Surrey Satellite Technology Co., Ltd., was launched on 27 October

2005. Its sensor measures four metres, and it is considered to have

the highest resolution among all the transmission-type micro-satel-

lites made in China. The satellite can send 32-metre long spectrums

and cover an area of 600 kilometres. It has the greatest width among

the same type of satellites produced in the world. The satellite can

work in space for at least five years.

In the coming few years, China will create an environment and

disaster monitoring satellite constellation by deploying a number of

optic and synthetic aperture mini-satellites in space. The satellite

constellation will become the world’s first space-earth based inte-

grated disaster management system, taking advantage of both ground

disaster information systems and space resources. The constellation

will be constructed in two phases. Phase I was completed between

2005 and 2006, during which two optic mini-satellites and one

synthetic aperture mini-satellite were deployed. The 2+1 deployment

pattern will produce a 48-hour satellite return visit capacity to meet

partial disasters alleviation needs. The Phase II project is scheduled

to become operational in 2010. By that time the 4+4 deployment

pattern (four optic mini-satellites and four synthetic aperture mini-

satellites) will make a 12-hour return visit possible.

China Integrated Earth Observation System; a 10-year plan

In response to the international GEOSS 10-Year Implementation

Plan, China is now organizing the experts of different ministries and

commissions to schedule the China Earth Observation 10-Year Plan,

which will be made up of one collectivity section and five important

observation system plans: the China climate observation system plan;

the China atmosphere chemistry observation system plan; the China

ocean observation system plan; the China hydro cycle observation

research plan, and the China carbon cycle observation research plan.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology has

added the ‘Earth Observation and Navigation Techniques’ research field

to the National High Technique Research and

Development Program, and expects to establish an inte-

grated research and development system for Chinese Earth

observation and navigation technology.

International cooperation

China encourages bilateral and multilateral international

and regional cooperation in space programmes. Since

1985, China has signed a series of intergovernmental

and interdepartmental agreements, protocols and memo-

randums on space science and technology and its

application in foreign countries, and has established a

long-term cooperative relationship with these countries.

The Galileo project is the largest cooperation project in

science and technology between China and EU so far.

China and the European Space Agency (ESA) successfully

launched TC-1 and TC-2 and implemented the Geo-space

Double Star Exploration Project, managed by China and

ESA. In 1997, the Chinese Ministry of Science and

Technology and ESA began long-term cooperation on

projects such as the applications of ERS-1/2 satellite data

and the Dragon Project in 2003 for the application of

ENVISAT data in the field of agriculture, forestry, envi-

ronment and city planning. They also began working

together on exchanges and training in aerospace field.

China, is working in close cooperation with EUMET-

SAT, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA), the World Meteorological

Organizatoin (WMO) and many prospective data

provider partners to develop GEONETCast, a global

network of satellite-based data dissemination systems

providing environmental data to a worldwide user

community. China attaches great importance to the Asia-

Pacific

region.

The

China

Meteorological

Administration, on behalf of the Chinese Government,

donated six sets of FENGYUNCast user receiving

stations to Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Mongolia,

Pakistan and Thailand in 2006. In October 2007,

another 11 sets of FENGYUNCast user receiving stations

were donated to the Democratic People’s Republic of

Korea, Kyrghyz, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic,

Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka,

Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. At present, 17

countries in the Asia-Pacific region are able to receive

Earth observation data through the FENGYUNCast. In

this regard, a positive impact has been made in initia-

tives for disaster prevention and reduction, economic

and social development and promoting the implemen-

tation of GEOSS in the region.

Building the GEOSS is an inexorable trend whether

due to the demands of society or the development of

science and technology. This will establish long-term

and stable Earth observation satellite systems and coor-

dinated national satellite remote sensing application

systems, which are especially designed for specific

departmental operations. China will continuously

promote the establishment of the GEOSS, working to

realize stereo viewing and dynamic monitoring on land,

atmosphere and ocean the world over.

China Meteorological Administration, donation of FENGYUNCast

user stations

ATIONAL

& R

EGIONAL

EPORTS