A LM-4B Launches Two Environmental Monitoring Satellites into Space

A LM-4B carrier rocket lifted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center at 11:23 Beijing time on September 27,launching two environmental monitoring satellites (HJ-2A and HJ-2B) into their preset orbits.

The HJ-2A and HJ-2B,two optical remote sensing satellites,will replace the previous operating satellites HJ-1A and HJ-1B,providing services in the areas of environmental protection,natural resources,water conservancy,agriculture and forestry.

The two satellites were developed by the DFH Satellite Co.,Ltd of CAST both with a 5-year design lifespan and 4 kinds of optical payloads.

They can quickly obtain images by networking in the same orbit,greatly improving the ability to obtain visible,infrared and hyperspectral data with medium resolution in China,and meet the urgent demand of the country for the continuous supply of remote sensing data in related fields.

The HJ-2A and HJ-2B will conduct coordinated operation for the first time with GF-1 and GF-6.Constellation coordination will improve satellite utilization and improve the efficiency of remotesensing observation in China.

Artist concept of HJ-2A and HJ-2B satllitesPhoto:CAST

The LM-4B carrier rocket was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology.The three-stage conventional liquid propellant rocket is capable of launching different satellites with different orbit requirements.

This mission applied dual satellite launch with an added dual cabin based on the basic fairing,enabling HJ-2A and HJ-2B to be launched into their preset orbits on one launch.

This was the 347th launch of the LM series launch vehicle.(HU Lanyue/China Space News)