China launches new earth observation spy satellite

China successfully sent high-definition earth observation satellite "Gaofen-1" into space at 12:13 p.m. Beijing time on Friday, announced the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND).

The mission was carried by a Long March-2D carrier rocket from northwest China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The rocket also carried three small satellites made by Ecuador, Argentina and Turkey as well as two satellite splitters from the Netherlands.

It is also the 19th launch of a Long March-2D, and the 175th of the Long March rocket series.

Developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, Gaofen-1 is the first of five or six satellites to be launched for the high-definition earth observation system (HDEOS) between 2011 and 2016.

4/28/2013
China launches new spy satellite
www.alalam.ir...

reply to post by grimghost


I appreciate you bringing this information to light...but your link is in Chinese...would you please provide a link in English...thank you!

reply to post by caladonea


Here is one site I found.
satellite.tmcnet.com...

Originally posted by azureskys
reply to post by caladonea

 

Here is one site I found.
satellite.tmcnet.com...

Thank you! That link really helps. I wanted to know their reasons for the satellite; and the article does give some; but I just have to wonder...are the reasons given...really all of the reasons?

I am just wondering; what hidden agendas might they have?

Originally posted by caladonea


I wanted to know their reasons for the satellite; and the article does give some; but I just have to wonder...are the reasons given...really all of the reasons?

I am just wondering; what hidden agendas might they have?

The only real reason?

Spying....

All I want to know is:

"WTF, are they CRT monitors?"

I'm sure many countries have earth observation satellites. Congrats on China for joining the program.

Reasons? Uses?
Probable the same that every other nation's satellites, part for science, part for business and part military.
If it was a spy satellite it is unlikely that we'd know.

Originally posted by DaRAGE
All I want to know is:

"WTF, are they CRT monitors?"

I'm sure many countries have earth observation satellites. Congrats on China for joining the program.

Considering China already has over 100 satellites of one form or another in space then really doubt they are just "joining the program"
At the moment they are one of the few countries that have the capability to put payloads into earth orbit, not many countries can claim that.