China launched a new ocean satellite into orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.
This was the 654th launch involving the Long March rocket series.
A Long March-4B rocket carrying the Haiyang-2E (HY-2E) satellite lifted off at 7:46 a.m. Beijing Time (6:46 a.m. Western Indonesian Time) and placed the satellite into its planned orbit.
The HY-2E satellite was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). As China's first satellite system dedicated to monitoring the ocean's dynamic environment, the HY-2 satellites have provided data services for national ocean disaster prevention and mitigation, resource development, maritime security, and oceanographic research for more than a decade.
Zhang Qingjun, an expert from CAST, said the newly launched HY-2E satellite will replace the HY-2B satellite launched in 2018 and will operate alongside the existing HY-2C and HY-2D satellites to ensure the stability of China's ocean dynamic environment monitoring services.
The HY-2E satellite is equipped with four microwave remote sensing payloads, capable of accurately acquiring data on sea surface height, significant wave height, sea surface wind field, and sea surface temperature, providing crucial data support for marine weather forecasting and El Niño phenomenon research.
The HY-2 satellite has accurately recorded typhoon data during typhoon activity impacting China, played a crucial role in tsunami early warning, and provided data for the global numerical weather forecasting system.
Wind, wave, and current data obtained from the HY-2 satellite can also help analyze key fishing grounds at sea, enabling fishermen to accurately and efficiently locate schools of fish, thereby increasing catches and reducing offshore operational costs.
The Automatic Identification System (AIS) for vessels has also been added to the HY-2 satellite since the HY-2B model, enabling continuous collection of vessel position, speed, and call sign data to enhance navigational safety.
