China launches 8 new Jilin-1 satellites into orbit

China successfully sent eight Jilin-1 satellites into orbit, transported by China's Smart Dragon-3 rocket on Dec 9, according to local media reports.

The Jilin-1 Gaofen 03D44-46 and 03D48-49 satellites are small and light high-resolution optical remote sensing satellites jointly developed by Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co, Meishan Huantian Intelligent Technology Co and Beijing Daoda Tianji Technology Co.

The Jilin-1 Gaofen 03 series satellites can provide users with images with a resolution better than 0.75 meter and a width greater than 17km. These satelites are low cost, low power consumption, low weight and high index.

The Jilin-1 Gaofen 03D44-46 satellites are China's first satellite constellation with the theme of smart cities. They will be widely used in agriculture, forestry, water conservancy, natural resources, transportation construction, cultural tourism, and emergency disaster prevention. They will provide strong support and guarantees for China's smart city development.

Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co, the first commercial remote sensing satellite company in China, was the only group from Northeast China to be selected for the 2020 China Unicorn Enterprises List. Unicorn companies are start-up firms valued at $1 billion or more.

Jilin-1 satellites are the company's core products. With the launch of the eight Jilin-1 satellites, the number of Jilin-1 satellites in orbit stands at 83.

These satellites typically provide more abundant remote sensing data and product services in the fields of agriculture, forestry, the ocean, resources, environmental protection, urban construction, and scientific experiments.