On February 27th, China successfully launched two SuperView Neo-1 satellites, further expanding its commercial high-resolution remote sensing constellation. A Long March 2C rocket, lifting off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 2:08 a.m. Eastern, carried SuperView Neo-1 03 and 04 (Domestically: Siwei Gaojing-1 (03, 04)) into orbit. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) swiftly confirmed the launch's success.
Operated by China Siwei Surveying and Mapping Technology Co., Ltd., these satellites are part of the "China Siwei New Generation Commercial Remote Sensing Satellite System," a network that now includes nine satellites and is slated to expand to 28. CASC highlights the satellites' "ultra-high resolution, high agility, high positioning accuracy, and high-capacity, high-performance data transmission," stating that their performance meets international standards. The satellites provide crucial data for precision mapping services and enhance China's agile imaging capabilities.
The SuperView constellation currently comprises four Neo-1 optical satellites, four Neo-2 SAR satellites, and one Neo-3 ultra-large width satellite. The newly launched satellites, developed by the Shanghai Academy of Space Technology (SAST), are in near-polar orbits at an altitude of approximately 500 kilometers. This launch marks China's ninth orbital launch attempt of the year, following the launch of the ChinaSat-10R and the debut of the Long March 8A rocket.
Looking ahead, China's 2025 space plans include the ambitious Tianwen-2 mission to retrieve asteroid samples. The country aims for numerous launches, with commercial companies targeting approximately 40 launches collectively. Furthermore, crewed Shenzhou-20 and -21 missions to the Tiangong space station are scheduled, along with the Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft launch. The year also promises the introduction of new rockets such as the Zhuque-3, Nebula-1, and Tianlong-3.