China plans to launch six small optical satellites and five
small synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites in next six years
to form the first satellite constellation of its kind in the world,
said Luan Enjie, director of the China National Space
Administration (CNSA). Luan described
the plan Tuesday during the panel discussion on knowledge-based
disaster management at the ongoing 60th session of the United
Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
(ESCAP).
The constellation utilizes the concept of? "formation
flying" satellites, a system in which a cluster of small, discrete
satellites remain in the same positions relative to each other as
they orbit the Earth. The data collected from each can be combined
to produce a single "virtual" satellite from the overall array.
Luan said that between 2005 and 2010, seven small optical
satellites and 5 small SAR satellites will be launched.
"We will not establish a round-the-clock monitoring system on
environmental changes and disasters in China until we set up a
satellite constellation," said Luo Ge, an official with the
CNSA.
The system will help to forecast such disasters as floods,
earthquakes, droughts, typhoons and forest fires, he added.
The three optical satellites for the first phase are now being
developed. They will be individually delivered to a solar
synchronization orbit 500 to 700 kilometers from Earth, each
carrying equipment that will include cameras with a resolution of
30 meters, Luo said.
China expects to introduce international partners in the second
phase of the project, when eight of the satellites will be
launched, he said.
"We hope the satellite constellation will be part of the
anti-disaster platform in the Asia-Pacific region," Luan said,
"China would like to push forward the application of space
technologies in disaster control in this region to share resources,
cut costs and reduce risks."
"China would like to fully play its role in disaster control in
the world and peaceful development in outer space," he added.
According to the China International Committee for Natural
Disaster (CICND), more than 200 million Chinese suffer as a result
of natural disasters every year. Last year they caused losses
totaling 188.4 billion yuan (US$22.7 billion), equal to 1.6 percent
of the country's GDP.
(Xinhua News Agency April 28, 2004)