Haishao-1 Satellite Ushers in New Era of Low-Latitude Earth Observation

A new study published in The Innovation on May 12, 2025, highlights the launch of Haishao-1 (HS-1), China's first low-inclination orbit Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite—marking a breakthrough in global Earth observation. Developed by the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites and AIRSAT Technology Group, HS-1 combines a lightweight design with high-performance imaging capacities. Uniquely positioned in a low-inclination orbit, the satellite is specifically designed to fill long-standing observational gaps in equatorial and tropical regions—areas that are frequently obscured by clouds and under-observed by conventional polar-orbiting satellites by delivering detailed, frequent radar imagery with remarkable clarity.

Jun 30, 2025

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Satellite Model Tackles Hotspot Effect, Boosting Land Surface Temperature Accuracy by 20%

A new study by researchers at the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, published in Remote Sensing of Environment introduces a three-component temperature retrieval model that synergizes multi-angle thermal infrared observations from polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites with considering hotspot effect and temperature difference.

Jun 23, 2025

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Scientists Develop High-precision Methods to Monitor Global CO₂ Emissions from Power Plants

A research team led by Professor SHI Yusheng from the Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a breakthrough solution to this problem. Using enhanced Gaussian plume model and data from NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory 3 satellite, the team has achieved high-precision CO2 emission estimates from 14 large coal-fired power plants globally.

Jun 18, 2025

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China Sets New National Record with Breakthrough in Satellite-Ground Communication

China has achieved a major milestone in satellite-ground communication. A joint research team from the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Beijing Rongwei Technology Co., Ltd. has successfully conducted a ground-based experiment, reaching a single-channel X-band transmission rate of 2,100 Mbps using 128QAM modulation. This marks a 75% increase over previous domestic benchmarks and sets a new national record in satellite-ground data transmission.

Jun 10, 2025

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Chinese Scientists Release High-resolution Rice Map of Africa to Support Global Food Security

A research team from the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) released Africa's first high-resolution rice distribution map at 20-meter resolution. This 2023 dataset, published in Earth System Science Data, marks a significant milestone in agricultural monitoring, providing full coverage of African countries with national-level rice cultivation areas exceeding 5,000 hectares. This study provides a critical data foundation for tracking food security across the continent and globally.

Jun 10, 2025

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