Recent Progress of Earth Observation Satellites in China Since 2024

HUANG Shusong; XIA Tian; ZHANG Wenhui; ZHAO Yingfen; CHEN Weirong

doi:10.11728/cjss2026.04.2026-yg13

Recent Progress of Earth Observation Satellites in China Since 2024

doi: 10.11728/cjss2026.04.2026-yg13 cstr: 32142.14.cjss.2026-yg13

China Centre for Resources Satellite Data and Application, Beijing 100094

More Information

Author Bio:
Male, born in September 1989 in Yangxin County, Shandong Province, is currently a senior engineer at China Centre for Resources Satellite Data and Application. He is engaged in the research of remote sensing satellite operation management, data process and direct economic benefit evaluation of Remote Sensing Satellite. E-mail: huangshusong@cresda.cn

Corresponding author: Female, born in April 1980, is a research professor. She has successively led the research on Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data processing algorithms, the R&D and operation of China’s terrestrial satellite ground processing systems, as well as data management, distribution and satellite data services. E-mail: weirong49@163.com

摘要

Abstract: Since 2024, China has continuously launched new Earth observation satellites, and now 33 satellites are operating stably in orbit. These satellites are equipped with optical, multispectral, infrared and radar payloads to produce rich remote sensing data. Their spatial resolution covers low, medium and high levels, enabling multi-spectral, all-time and all-weather observation across the globe. The remote sensing data are widely used in natural resource detection, environmental governance, disaster prevention and mitigation, urban mapping, agricultural and forestry investigation, geological exploration and ocean forecasting, bringing substantial social and economic benefits. This article summarizes the overall status of China’s Earth observation satellites since 2024, focusing on satellite launch progress, data coverage and data distribution performance.
- Earth observation satellites /
- Remote sensing data /
- Data archiving /
- Data distribution /
- Data coverage
注释:
Conflict of Interests:

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Figure 1. Global valid data coverage of 2-meter class resolution optical satellites (cloud cover ≤ 20%)

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Figure 2. Global valid data coverage of sub-meter class resolution optical satellites (cloud cover ≤ 20%)

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Figure 3. Global valid data coverage of hyperspectral optical satellites (cloud cover ≤ 20%)

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Figure 4. Global valid data coverage of thermal infrared optical satellites (cloud cover ≤ 20%)

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Figure 5. Global coverage of SAR satellites

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Table 1. List of in-orbit satellites in China (as of 31 May 2026)

Number	Satellite	Launch date	Design life / a
1	GF-1	26 Apr. 2013	5–8
2	CBERS-04	7 Dec. 2014	3
3	GF-4	29 Dec. 2015	8
4	ZY-3 02	30 May 2016	5
5	GF-3	10 Aug. 2016	8
6	CSES	2 Feb. 2018	5
7	GF-1B	31 Mar. 2018	6
8	GF-1C	31 Mar. 2018	6
9	GF-1D	31 Mar. 2018	6
10	GF-6	2 Jun. 2018	8
11	ZY-1E	12 Sept. 2019	5
12	GF-7	3 Nov. 2019	8
13	CBERS-04A	20 Dec. 2019	5
14	GFDM	3 Jul. 2020	8
15	ZY-3 03	25 Jul. 2020	8
16	HJ-2A	27 Sept. 2020	5
17	HJ-2B	27 Sept. 2020	5
18	GF-5B	7 Sept. 2021	8
19	SCSY-1	14 Oct. 2021	3
20	GF-3B	23 Nov. 2021	8
21	ZY-1F	26 Dec. 2021	8
22	LT-1A	26 Jan. 2022	8
23	LT-1B	27 Feb. 2022	8
24	GF-3C	7 Apr. 2022	8
25	DQ-1	16 Apr. 2022	8
26	CM-1	4 Aug. 2022	8
27	HJ-2E	13 Oct. 2022	8
28	GF-5 01A	9 Dec. 2022	8
29	HJ-2F	9 Aug. 2023	8
30	JZ-1	13 Aug. 2023	8
31	CSES 02	14 Jun. 2025	6
32	ZY-3 04	16 Dec. 2025	8
33	DQ-2	17 Apr. 2026	8

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Table 2. Statistics of imagery data distribution (as of 31 May 2026)

Satellite (Payload)	Distribution / scenes	Satellite (Payload)	Distribution / scenes
CBERS-01/02	331001	ZY-1E	1111389
CBERS-02B	806966	GF-7	2790774
HJ-1A	4016256	CB04A	231850
HJ-1B	1662455	ZY3-03	1293772
SJ-9A	997632	HJ-2A	3020296
HJ-1C	382011	HJ-2B	3005590
GF-5	1009098	GF-5B	5141788
ZY-1 02C	1811628	GF-3B	1678766
ZY3-01	3202018	ZY-1F	1434835
GF-1	26284427	LT-1A	589715
GF-2	26592631	LT-1B	576664
CB-04	1914055	GF-3C	1669067
GF-4	4203039	DQ-1(WSI)	1023839
ZY3-02	3502655	CM-1(DMC)	2465881
GF-3	4630961	HJ-2E	873163
GF-1B	2691566	GF-5 01A	1315333
GF-1C	2470165	HJ-2F	609021
GF-1D	2507470	JZ-1	68580
GF-6	3723628	ZY3-04	67308
Total　　　121707293

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