NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 2012-001A
Ziyuan 3 was launched from Taiyuan on 09 January 2012 at 03:17 UT. The satellite was launched by a Long March 4B rocket and weighed 2630 kg. Ziyuan 3, also known as ZY 3, is the first of a new series of high-resolution civilian remote sensing satellites and will be used for stereo mapping.
The spacecraft carries three high-resolution panchromatic cameras and an infrared multispectral scanner (IRMSS). The cameras are positioned at front-facing, ground-facing and rear-facing positions. Two cameras (front-facing and rear-facing) have a spectral resolution of 3.5 m and 52.3 km ground swath while the ground-facing camera has a spectral resolution of 2.1 m and 51.1 km ground swath. The IRMSS has a spectral resolution of 6.0 m and 51.0 km ground swath. The satellite will be used to provide imagery to monitor resources, land use and ecology, and for use in urban planning and disaster management.
The satellite has a planned operational lifetime of 4 years with a possible extension to 5 years.
Launch Date: 2012-01-09
Launch Vehicle: Long March 4B
Launch Site: Taiyuan, Peoples Republic of China
Mass: 2630 kg
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office