Zi Yuan 3
During the early 1990s Chinese spacecraft designers were investigating the potential of a constellation of several low-mass, LEO Zi Yuan (Earth Resources) spacecraft to fulfill remote sensing objectives. One concept envisioned seven coplanar spacecraft of less than 250 kg each in a 770-km, sun-synchronous orbit. Each spacecraft would carry 4-channel CCD sensors capable of 400-km swath widths and 100-m ground resolution. Total payload mass (camera system, converters, power supply, etc.) is budgeted for only 10 kg. A cooled, multi-channel infrared camera system with a mass of 40-50 kg is also being considered but may require separate spacecraft platforms (Reference 633).
High Definition Survey Satellite ZY-3 Planned For 2011
This new high definition civil high definition satellite may in fact be a next generation (CBERS-3) Zi Yuan 3 class spacecraft. It is said to be planned for launch in 2011 from the Shanxi Province, Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center launch infrastructure on a Long March-3B booster. It will operate in a sun-synchronous orbit at about 506 kilometers at an inclination of 84 degrees north or south of the equator. I may serve a duel purpose Earth Resources and a “National Defense Sector” purpose as a RECSAT capability since it is a high definition system being fielded.
Reference:
1 China to Launch Civil HD Survey Satellite In 2011, Space Daily, Xinhua News Agency Beijing Dec. 21, 2009
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