China constructs extensive constellation of commercial radar satellites
China is developing a substantial commercial radar satellite constellation.
TroibNews 
A new commercial radar remote sensing constellation of 12 satellites has begun operations in China, as reported by PIESAT, a satellite company based in Beijing.
This development follows the successful launch and operation of four PIESAT-2 satellites into a 528-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit last week, which have been able to transmit high-resolution images and data back to Earth without issue.
The newly launched satellites join an existing fleet of eight, creating the most extensive commercial radar remote sensing constellation in China, known as Nuwa, named after the goddess who is revered as the creator of humanity.
The satellites in the Nuwa constellation are organized into three distinct groups. The first group features a wheel-like configuration with a central satellite acting as a "hub," surrounded by three auxiliary satellites placed evenly around it. The second and third groups, which were launched in the past two months, consist of four satellites each that form co-orbital wheel-like formations.
This constellation now provides global coverage, including polar and equatorial regions, and possesses the ability to penetrate clouds and rain, facilitating all-weather, continuous earth observation with imaging resolutions reaching as fine as 1 meter.
"The satellites provide real-time remote sensing with quick response and agile observation capabilities," stated Wang Yuxiang, chairman of PIESAT. "They take as little as 20 minutes to transmit data from command to ground reception."
Looking ahead, it is anticipated that by 2025, the Nuwa constellation will expand to include at least 20 satellites, allowing for a daily revisit interval and a rapid revisit time reduced to just one hour.
Moreover, the PIESAT team has incorporated artificial intelligence to improve the efficiency of image analysis, enabling real-time monitoring of millimeter-scale deformations in structures such as dams and drainage outlets.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
This development follows the successful launch and operation of four PIESAT-2 satellites into a 528-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit last week, which have been able to transmit high-resolution images and data back to Earth without issue.
The newly launched satellites join an existing fleet of eight, creating the most extensive commercial radar remote sensing constellation in China, known as Nuwa, named after the goddess who is revered as the creator of humanity.
The satellites in the Nuwa constellation are organized into three distinct groups. The first group features a wheel-like configuration with a central satellite acting as a "hub," surrounded by three auxiliary satellites placed evenly around it. The second and third groups, which were launched in the past two months, consist of four satellites each that form co-orbital wheel-like formations.
This constellation now provides global coverage, including polar and equatorial regions, and possesses the ability to penetrate clouds and rain, facilitating all-weather, continuous earth observation with imaging resolutions reaching as fine as 1 meter.
"The satellites provide real-time remote sensing with quick response and agile observation capabilities," stated Wang Yuxiang, chairman of PIESAT. "They take as little as 20 minutes to transmit data from command to ground reception."
Looking ahead, it is anticipated that by 2025, the Nuwa constellation will expand to include at least 20 satellites, allowing for a daily revisit interval and a rapid revisit time reduced to just one hour.
Moreover, the PIESAT team has incorporated artificial intelligence to improve the efficiency of image analysis, enabling real-time monitoring of millimeter-scale deformations in structures such as dams and drainage outlets.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
