China launches new Earth observation satellite

China launched the Gaofen 11-04 Earth-observation satellite on Tuesday afternoon, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.

The satellite was lifted into orbit on a Long March 4B carrier rocket that blasted off at 3:37 pm from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province, the State-owned space contractor said in a news release.

Developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, a CASC subsidiary in Beijing, the satellite is tasked with providing images and data to land mapping and management, urban development planning, agricultural yield forecasting, and disaster prevention and relief, the release said.

The launch marked the 457th flight of the Long March rocket family and the 62nd space mission by China in 2022.

The Long March 4B rocket model is built by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, another CASC subsidiary. The model can transport multiple satellites with a combined weight of 2.5 metric tons to a typical sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 700 kilometers.

The Long March 4B has carried out 11 flights this year, according to the Shanghai academy.

China launched the Gaofen program in May 2010 and listed it as one of the 16 national important projects in science and technology. The program has established a space-based, high-resolution Earth observation network with dozens of Gaofen satellites in operation.

Images and data from the Gaofen satellites have been widely used in more than 20 industries across China and have helped reduce the country's dependence on foreign remote-sensing products.