New Ground Station Opens, Boosting Earth Observation Capabilities in Southwest China

The Lijiang station, part of China's Remote Sensing Satellite Ground Station (RSGS), officially commenced operations on September 27, 2024. The station, operated by the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), fills a critical gap by providing real-time satellite data reception in Southwest China.

Located in the Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, 28 kilometers from Lijiang city, the station sits at an elevation of 2,827 meters. Its high-altitude, with minimal surrounding terrain obstruction and a low-interference electromagnetic environment, makes it ideal for satellite data collection.

Construction of the Lijiang station began in November 2022, with trial operations starting in March 2023. By the end of August 2024, the station had successfully handled data reception tasks for 26 national satellites, including those from the ZY, HJ, and GF series. The station achieved a data reception success rate of over 99.71%.

Equipped with four satellite antenna systems, the Lijiang station supports S, X, and Ka bands with dual-polarization capabilities and X-band tracking and control. The station boasts a maximum downlink rate of 2,000 Mbps, allowing near real-time transmission of satellite data. 

The southwest region of China is prone to frequent earthquakes and geological disasters. With the Lijiang station now operational, it provides critical real-time satellite data from satellites orbiting below 500 kilometers. This capability will be crucial for rapid disaster response, offering timely support for disaster prevention and mitigation efforts.

The Lijiang station joins a national network of land observation satellite data reception stations, alongside stations Miyun in suburban Beijing; Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region; Sanya on south China's island province of Hainan; and Mohe, China's northernmost city. Its unique geographic advantages and state-of-the-art satellite data reception capabilities make it an essential component of China’s satellite data infrastructure, furthering the nation’s social and economic development while supporting advancements in space technology.

The panoramic view of the Lijiang Data Receiving Station. (Image by AIR)