China to give priority to development of applied satellites

China will give priority to the development of applied satellites and construct a comprehensive chain of space industry covering satellite manufacturing, launching services, ground equipment production and operational services in the coming five years.

A white paper, titled "China's Space Activities in 2006" and issued on Thursday, says China will start and implement a high-resolution Earth observation system; develop and launch new-type sun synchronous orbit and geostationary-orbit meteorological satellites in the coming five years.

China will develop and launch oceanic satellites, Earth resources satellites, small satellites for environmental protection and disaster mitigation monitoring and forecasting, according to the white paper issued by the Information Office of the State Council.

Introducing the major tasks of China's space industry in the coming five years, the white paper says China will start research into key technologies of new-type remote-sensing satellites, including stereo mapping satellites.

China aims to "form an all-weather, 24-hour, multi-spectral, differential-resolution Earth observation system for stable operation, and achieve stereoscopy and dynamic monitoring of the land, atmosphere and sea," the white paper says.

China will make an overall plan for the development of a satellite remote-sensing ground system and an application system, and will integrate and improve the present satellite remote-sensing ground system, establish and improve a national satellite remote-sensing data center.

China will develop and launch geostationary orbit telecommunications satellites and direct TV broadcasting satellites with long operating life, high reliability and large capacity, and will develop satellite technologies for live broadcast, broadband multi-media, emergency telecommunications, and telecommunications and broadcasting for public service, it says.

The white paper says China will develop and launch seed-breeding satellite, and promote integration of space technology and agricultural breeding technology and expand the application of space technology in the field of agricultural science research.

China will also develop scientific satellites, including space telescope and new-type recoverable satellites, and conduct basic research in the fields of space astronomy, space physics, micro-gravity science, and space life science, according to the white paper.

Over the past five years, China has independently developed and launched 22 different types of man-made satellites, upgrading its overall level in this field markedly.

On the basis of the four satellite series initially developed, China has developed two more satellite series, to bring the total to six -- the recoverable remote-sensing satellites, "DFH" (Dongfanghong, or The East is Red) telecommunications and broadcasting satellites, "FY" (Fengyun, or Wind and Cloud) meteorological satellites, "SJ" (Shijian, or Practice) scientific research and technological experiment satellites, "ZY" (Ziyuan, or Resources) Earth resource satellites, and "Beidou" (Plough) navigation and positioning satellites.

In addition, the oceanic satellite series will come into being soon. "Research and development of the payload of some new, high-performance satellites have been successful, and many application satellites have begun regular operation," the white paper says.

The Fengyun I and Fengyun II meteorological satellites have been listed by the World Meteorological Organization in the international satellite series for meteorological services.

The fields and scale where satellite remote-sensing is used have been constantly expanded. A national satellite remote-sensing application system has taken shape, the white paper says.

Satellite remote-sensing application systems are playing an important role in the nationwide land resources survey, ecological construction and environmental protection, as well as in major state projects, such as the South-North Water Diversion Project, Three Gorges Project, and the Project to Transmit Natural Gas from West to East.

Satellite telecommunications and broadcasting technologies are developing rapidly. By the end of 2005, China had more than 80 international and domestic telecommunications and broadcasting Earth stations, and 34 satellite broadcasting and TV link stations.

Dozens of departments and some large corporations have established some 100 satellite specialized communication networks and more than 50,000 Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSAT).

As a member of the International Maritime Satellite Organization, China has established a maritime satellite communication network covering the whole world, ranking it among the advanced countries in the application of international mobile satellite communication.

By employing domestic and foreign navigation and positioning satellites, China has made great progress in the development, application and services of satellite navigation and positioning technologies. The range and fields where satellite navigation and positioning are applied are being expanded and the size of the national market for satellite navigation and positioning doubles every two years.

Source: Xinhua