China launches Earth observation satellite Gaofen-13 02

China added its initially civilian Gaofen Earth observation series Friday with the launch of the classified optical geostationary Gaofen-13 (02) satellite.

A Long March 3B rocket lifted off from the hill-surrounded Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 4:33 a.m. Eastern, March 17, Space News reports.

The launch successfully sent the Gaofen-13 (02) satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC), announced.

The payload was only revealed after launch, with speculation that the Long March 3B would carry ChinaSat communications or Beidou navigation satellite.

CASC provided no details of the satellite’s capabilities, stating only that the optical remote sensing satellite is a high-orbit, high-resolution Earth observation technology satellite with great significance to the development of China’s space technology. The mission patch features a galloping horse behind a Long March 3B rocket.

The Gaofen-13 (02) (gaofen means high resolution) satellite is nominally part of the civilian China High-resolution Earth Observation System (CHEOS). Land surveys, crop yield estimation, environmental governance, meteorological early warning and forecasting, as well as comprehensive disaster prevention and mitigation are noted as the main uses of the satellite, according to Chinese state media.

The first Gaofen-13 satellite was launched in October 2020, also using a Long March 3B rocket. The pair are thought to be more capable versions of the Gaofen-4 geostationary optical satellite launched in December 2015. Gaofen-4 has a reported ground resolution of 50 meters.