Question: What is the total number of satellites which is to be launched by china by the year 2020 as part of the country’s high-definition (HD) earth observation Gaofen project?
(a) 5
(b) 6
(c) 7
(d) 4
Ans (c)
Related facts:
- On 29 December 2015, China successfully launched its “most sophisticated” observation satellite, Gaofen-4, as part of the country’s high-definition earth observation project.
- It was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in the south-western province of Sichuan.
- The Satellite was launched aboard a Long March-3B carrier rocket.
- It was the 222th space flight of the Long March rocket series and China’s 19th space mission in year 2015.
Highlights of Gaofen-4:
- Gaofen-4 is China’s first geosynchronous orbit HD optical imaging satellite and the world’s most sophisticated HD geosynchronous orbit remote sensing satellite.
- Different from Gaofen-1 and Gaofen-2 in low orbits (600-700 km) around the earth, Gaofen-4 is located at the orbit 36,000 kilometers away from the earth and moves synchronously with the earth.
- It will be used for disaster prevention and relief, surveillance of geological disasters and forest disasters, and meteorologic forecast.
- The satellite is equipped with a visible light and infrared staring optical imager with a common optical system.
- It is designed to operate for eight years.
- The Gaofen project aims to launch seven high-definition observation satellites before 2020.
- Gaofen-1, the first satellite of the project, was launched in April 2013.
- The Gaofen satellites are part of the China High-Resolution Earth Observation System (CHEOS).
- The Earth Observation System and Data Center of China National Space Administration (EOSDC-CNSA) is responsible for organizing the construction of CHEOS.
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