Recent Advances of the SDGSAT-1 for Supporting Global SDG Monitoring and Evaluation

GUO Huadong; DOU Changyong; JIANG Nijun; TANG Yunwei

doi:10.11728/cjss2026.04.2026-yg11

Recent Advances of the SDGSAT-1 for Supporting Global SDG Monitoring and Evaluation

doi: 10.11728/cjss2026.04.2026-yg11 cstr: 32142.14.cjss.2026-yg11

GUO Huadong^{1, 2, 3
, ,},
DOU Changyong^{1, 2, 3},
JIANG Nijun^{1, 2},
TANG Yunwei^{1, 2}

1.
International Research Center for Big Data for Sustainable Development, Beijing 100094
2.
Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094
3.
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049

Funds: Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (W2412136)

More Information

Corresponding author: Professor, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chief Scientist of SDGSAT-1 science satellite, the Director General of the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS), Honorary President of the International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE), Chair of the Digital Belt and Road (DBAR) Program, and a member of the UN 10-Member Group to support the Technology Facilitation Mechanism for SDGs (2018–2021), President of ISDE (2015-2019), President of International Science Council Committee on Data (CODATA 2010-2014), and Chair of International Committee on Remote Sensing of Environment (2018-2019). He specializes in Big Earth Data in support of global sustainable development, radar for Earth observation, and Digital Earth science. E-mail: hdguo@radi.ac.cn

摘要

Abstract: As a dedicated scientific satellite tailored to advance the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda), the Sustainable Development Science Satellite 1 (SDGSAT-1) has entered its fifth year of in-orbit operation. This satellite has witnessed a rapid diversification in its research applications. The satellite’s data have been used by more than 116 countries, and over 220 peer-reviewed papers have been published. Such remarkable research growth is attributable to the high-quality data products derived from SDGSAT-1’s technological innovations, alongside its open data access policy and sustainably maintained operational status underpinned by the SDGSAT-1 Open Science Program. This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of the mission’s research progress over the past two years and elaborates on the future development prospects for ongoing global SDG monitoring and assessment.
- SDGSAT-1 /
- Earth observation /
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) /
- Remote sensing
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Figure 1. Images of central Beijing captured by SDGSAT-1. (a) Nighttime band 2 TIS image, captured on 11 March 2026. (b) Nighttime RGB-composite GLI image, captured on 11 March 2026. (c) Daytime RGB-composite MSI image, captured on 2 February 2026

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Table 1. Technical parameters of SDGSAT-1 sensors

Type	Parameter	Specification and unit
Multispectral imager	Swath width	300 km
	Spatial resolution	10 m
	Designed radiometric accuracy	Relative: ≤2% Absolute: ≤5%

	Bands and central wavelengths	Band 1 (deep blue): 400.63 nm
		Band 2 (deep blue): 438.47 nm Band 3 (blue): 495.10 nm Band 4 (green): 553.23 nm Band 5 (red): 656.75 nm Band 6 (red edge): 776.12 nm Band 7 (near-infrared): 854.02 nm

Thermal infrared spectrometer	Swath width	300 km
	Spatial resolution	30 m
	Designed radiometric accuracy	Relative: ≤5% Absolute: ≤1 K@300 K

	Bands and central wavelengths	Band 1: 9.35 μm Band 2: 10.73 μm Band 3: 11.72 μm

Glimmer imager	Swath width	300 km
	Spatial resolution	Panchromatic: 10 m, RGB: 40 m
	Designed radiometric accuracy	Relative: ≤2% Absolute: ≤5%

	Bands and central wavelengths	Blue band: 478.87 nm Green band: 561.20 nm Red band: 734.25 nm Panchromatic band: 680.72 nm

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Table 2. Orbit parameters of SDGSAT-1

Parameter	Specification and unit
Type	Sun-synchronous orbit
Orbit period / min	90
Revisit period / d	11
Altitude / km	505
Inclination angle /(°)	97.5

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