China's hyperspectral Earth observation satellite put into use

China's hyperspectral satellite for Earth observation has gone into use after completing in-orbit tests, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the primary developer of the spacecraft, announced on Tuesday. 

The satellite, Gaofen-5 02, was launched into space on Sept. 7, 2021. Designers mounted seven payloads on it, including short-wave infrared hyperspectral cameras.

The onboard devices will monitor air, water, and land, strengthening China's environmental protection efforts to fight pollution and provide support for achieving the carbon peaking and neutrality goals, said the ministry.

The satellite can also offer high-precision, hyperspectral remote sensing data for users in other industries, such as mineral resource surveys, crop yield estimation, and climate change research.

Compared with conventional optical imaging satellites that only observe an object's shape and size, hyperspectral ones are capable of combining spectra with images and detecting various ground objects and specific components of the atmosphere.