China launches new Earth observation satellite

Taiyuan, Nov 3 (IANS) China on Sunday launched Gaofen-7, a new Earth observation satellite, which will play a major role in land surveying and mapping, urban and rural construction and statistical investigation, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The Gaofen-7 was China's first civil-use optical transmission three-dimensional surveying and mapping satellite that reaches the sub-metre level, Xinhua reported.

The satellite and carrier rocket were developed by the China Academy of Space Technology and the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

Along with Gaofen-7, three other commercial and scientific experiment satellites, including one developed for Sudan, were also launched into space.

The development of the Gaofen-7 has achieved a breakthrough in sub-meter level 3D mapping camera technology, meeting the highest mapping accuracy requirement among the Gaofen series Earth observation satellites, according to CNSA.

It can obtain high-resolution optical 3D observation data and high-precision laser altimetry data and can realise 1:10,000 scale satellite 3D mapping for civil use.