China launches first two Qinling constellation satellites — ECNS
China has launched the Qinling-01 and Qinling-02 satellites, the first two spacecraft of the planned Qinling remote-sensing constellation. The Lijian-1 Y18 launch vehicle lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the country’s northwest at 12:03 p.m. Beijing time on Sunday. This was reported by ECNS.
Orbital deployment
The satellites were developed under the leadership of Northwestern Polytechnical University. According to the publication, both spacecraft successfully entered their designated orbits.
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Qinling-01 and Qinling-02 will operate in a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 500 kilometers. Each satellite is equipped with a panchromatic and multispectral camera with a resolution of less than one meter.
Plans for the constellation
The constellation is planned to include 36 satellites of three types: for observations in the visible spectrum, hyperspectral satellites, and satellites equipped with synthetic aperture radars. It is intended to provide high-detail remote-sensing services for the environmental protection of the Qinling Mountains and the Yellow River region.
