Hey space fam! 🚀 Earlier today, December 16, 2025, a Long March-4B rocket soared from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China at 11:17 a.m. Beijing Time, carrying the new Ziyuan III 04 satellite into orbit.
The Ziyuan III 04, built by the China Academy of Space Technology, joins its in-orbit siblings – Ziyuan III 02 and III 03 – to form a powerful stereo mapping constellation. This trio is all about high-res 3D imaging! 🌍
- Stereoscopic mapping camera: snaps multiple angles for detailed 3D pics
- Multispectral camera: captures data across different light wavelengths
- Laser altimeter: measures surface heights with laser precision
These high-res images and elevation data will fuel geographic info systems (GIS), natural resource surveys, land-use planning, and even environmental law enforcement. Plus, today's lift-off marks the 617th flight of the Long March rocket series – talk about a legacy! 🚀
Stay tuned: our view of Earth is about to get a whole lot sharper! 🔭✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
