China Successfully Launches Haishao-1 Ultra-Low-Earth-Orbit SAR Satellite

At 12:46 PM on December 4, China successfully launched Haishao-1 satellite by a Kuaizhou 1A carrier rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center. The satellite was successfully send into its preset orbit, marking a significant milestone as China’s first ultra-low-Earth-orbit Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite.

Operating in a 43° low-inclination orbit at an altitude of just 350 kilometers, Haishao-1 satellite significantly improves observation efficiency in low-latitude regions. The satellite enables integrated optical-SAR collaborative observations, making it a highly versatile tool for remote sensing applications.

The satellite is equipped with an advanced X-band multi-polarization SAR payload, enabling sub-meter resolution and wide-swath microwave imaging. It supports multiple imaging modes with single-, dual-, quad-, and compact polarization, ensuring versatility for various remote sensing applications. By utilizing innovative materials and a lightweight design, the SAR payload achieves less than 80kg weight, showcasing efficiency without compromising performance.

The SAR payload on the Haishao-1 satellite was developed by the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The satellite program itself was a collaborative endeavor, uniting the specialized expertise of AIR, the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of CAS, the Hainan Space Innovation Technology Center, and Zhongke Satellite Technology Group Co., Ltd.

Haishao-1 satellite is expected to provide critical remote sensing data to support emergency disaster relief, land management, water resource monitoring, and marine environment surveillance.