A Long March 2D/2 (CZ-2D/2) rocket successfully launched the Gaofen-6 Earth observation/Remote sensing satellite from the Jiuquan launch site in Inner Mongolia, China. The satellite was launched at 0413 GMT on 2 June 2018. Unlike many of China’s programmes which are formally described as being civilian but are really military in nature, Gaofen is regarded as a true civilian programme. Several Gaofen satellites have been launched to date – and nearly all differ from each other as the improve the art of Earth observation and remote sensing.
This 1064kg satellite is believed to be carrying a high resolution panchromatic camera of 2m resolution, a multi-spectral camera of 8m resolution, and multispectral wide-view camera. of 16m resolution. The satellite has a reported eight year design life.
The Gaofen 6 satellite was not the only spacecraft aboard the flight. A small cubesat-class 7kg satellite called Luojia-1 was also carried. It is a prototype for a future Earth observation constellation.
Long March 2D/2 rocket puts Gaofen-6 into orbit. Courtesy: Xinhua
