So, China just launched a brand-new ocean observation satellite, Haiyang-3 (01), marking the start of a fresh series of these cool space gadgets.
The Liftoff Scene
Picture this: a Long March 2C rocket blasted off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Nov. 15. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) was quick to shout out launch success and spilled the beans on the payload—our star, Haiyang-3 (01).
Mission Deets
Haiyang-3 (01) is set to orbit around in a fancy dawn-to-dusk path. Equipped with an X-band SAR payload, this satellite will be checking out the oceans for the next eight years, rain or shine.
Eye in the Sky
What’s cool is that Haiyang-3 (01) is like a detective for water bodies worldwide. It’s armed with multiple tools to peek at things like water color, temperature, sea ice, and more. Think of it as an ocean watchdog, giving us heads up on the environment and marine life.
Team Haiyang
This satellite is part of the Haiyang-3 squad, the newer gang in town. They’re all about using SAR (that’s Synthetic Aperture Radar) to scan the seas, while the older Haiyang-2 team focuses on stuff like wind speed and sea surface temperature.
Behind the Scenes
The brains behind Haiyang-3 (01) hail from the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). But it’s going to be the National Satellite Ocean Application Service (NSOAS) taking the reins to keep this satellite running smoothly.
Why It Matters
These ocean satellites aren’t just up there for show—they’re like superheroes in the sky, helping with weather forecasts, keeping an eye on climate changes, tracking pollution, and making sure ships sail smoothly.
Year of Launches
China’s been busy in space this year! Haiyang-3 (01) marked their 53rd orbital launch. The plan was to launch over 60 times this year, and they’re on track, having completed 39 missions so far.
Rocket Comeback News
In other space gossip, Galactic Energy, a launch service provider, is making a comeback after a rough patch. They had a hiccup back in September, breaking their streak of nine successful launches.
The Comeback Trail
Galactic Energy faced an issue with their Ceres-1 solid rocket. Turns out, there was some weird stuff going on with the first stage engine nozzle, causing the rocket to go off track a minute into the flight.
So, there you have it! China’s diving deeper into space to keep an eye on our oceans, while Galactic Energy is gearing up for a fresh start after their little rocket mishap. Exciting times in the world above us, right?
