Today, December 30, 2025, at 12:12 p.m. local time, China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center witnessed a spectacular liftoff 🚀: a Long March-4B rocket carried the Tianhui-7 mapping satellite into space.
Tianhui-7, meaning Sky Drawing, is set to revolutionize the way we see our world. Designed by the China Academy of Space Technology, it will capture high-res geographic maps, support national land surveys, and power scientific experiments. Think Google Earth on steroids 🛰️🌍
The three-stage, liquid-propelled Long March-4B is a versatile workhorse, capable of deploying single or multiple satellites into precise orbits. For Tianhui-7, it delivered a payload of up to 2.5 tonnes into a sun-synchronous orbit around 700 km above Earth—meaning the satellite passes over each point at the same local time for consistent lighting.
This marks the seventh and final mission of the Long March-4 series in 2025, and the 622nd flight of the Long March family. It's a reminder of how far space tech has come—and how much more is on the horizon ✨
From mapping the Himalayas to updating street views in Jakarta, Tianhui-7's data could soon power your favorite map apps and help planners make smarter, greener decisions. Stay tuned for fresh high-res maps and maybe even your next adventure guide on your phone 🗺️📱
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
