Meet Ziyuan-3, a series of high-resolution Earth observation satellites from the China Academy of Space Technology and the Ministry of Land and Resources of the People’s Republic of China.

Each satellite has three cameras that allow it to see surface features clearly down to 2.5 meters when directly above an observation point and 4 meters when not directly over a site.

They also have infrared cameras that can see down to 6 meters.

The fleet of Ziyuan satellites provide information for city planning, disaster management and response, and agriculture.

In Mandarin, Ziyuan means “resources.”

The Chang Zheng 4B (Long March 4B) is a medium-lift rocket within China's launch vehicle family.

Flying for the first time on May 10th, 1999, it has two locations from which it can launch, the Taiyuan and Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centers.

At Taiyuan, the rocket as two launch pads, LA-7 and LA-9. At Jiuquan, it has a single launch pad: SLS-2 (South Launch Site 2).

It is manufactured by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology.

Image credit: Xinhua

LC-9

One of three launch sites at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, LA-9 (Launch Area 9) hosts the Chang Zheng 2C, 4B, and 4C rocket variants.

The pad was used for the first time in October 2008.

Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center

The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center is located in Kelan County, Xinzhou, Shanxi Province, People's Republic of China.

It became fully operational in 1968 and is used primarily to launch weather, Earth observation, and science missions to Sun-Synchronous orbits.

The launch site has also hosted Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles and Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile tests.

Taiyuan has three launch pads, LA-7, LA-9, and LA-16, and currently hosts the launches of the Chang Zheng 1D, 2C, 4A, 4B, 4C, and 6 rockets.