China has successfully launched the Haiyang-1C marine observation satellite aboard a Long March 2C rocket. The launch received little media coverage with the only prelaunch indication coming from a restricted airspace notice.
The Long March 2C carrying the Haiyang-1C satellite lifted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre at 03:15 UTC (11:15 local time) on September 7. The launch was China’s 24th with the country maintaining their 100% launch record for 2018. Following a successful deployment, Chinese officials confirmed that the satellite was operating nominally under its own power.
The Haiyang-1C marine observation satellite is equipped with the China Ocean Colour and Temperature Scanner (COCTS), the Coastal Zone Imager (CZI), a spectrometer, and an ultraviolet imager. Additionally, it is equipped with a satellite-based automatic identification system (AIS) allowing it to receive transmissions from AIS-equipped vessels for ship tracking.
The satellite will be utilised to monitor ocean colour and water temperature. According to the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND), the data will be used for global oceanic environmental research.
