Encyclopedia
Astronautica

astronautix.com

topic index

 
space news
Updated: April 28, 2006



 
I have learned to use the word 'impossible' with the greatest caution.

   ---von Braun


Disaster Monitoring Constellation
 

Class: Earth. Type: Surveillance. Nation: China. Manufacturer: CAST.

In November 1998 Xu Fuxiang, president of the Chinese Academy of Space Technology (CAST) said that China planned to establish a small satellite environmental monitoring and disaster warning network. The constellation of eight advanced satellites, including four 400 kg optical satellites and four 700 kg radar satellites, would orbit in two planes to provide round-the-clock monitoring. The satellites would each have a three year design life. This constellation would be separate from planned satellite networks for navigation, global positioning, mobile telecommunications and earth observations. The Tsinghua-1 50-kg microsat was the first demonstrator for the constellation. The draft project was reviewed in July 2000 by Chinese government commitees and the China Space Science and Technology Corporation. In June 2001 the China National Space Administration announced a search for possible international collaborators in the project. This could take the form for international partners to provide small satellites, instruments, or cash investment.

A prototype of a satellite based Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) was exhibited in February 2001. The radar had been jointly developed by Institutes 501 and 504 of CASC and the China Academy of Sciences under Program 863, a high-tech development program started in March 1986.

Mass: 700 kg.



Bibliography:


 
Contact Mark Wade with any corrections, additions, or comments.
Conditions for use of drawings, pictures, or other materials from this site..
This web site is sponsored by SpaceBank.com
Last update 28 March 2005.

© Mark Wade, 2005 .

 Find Hilton Head Island Real Estate
 Find Savannah Real Estate
 Find Hilton Head Real Estate
 Lots of good Soul Therapy right here
 Top Entertainment Sites Directory
 Make sure you Buy A House soon!