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Hongjian -> RE: Naval and Defense News (8/21/2018 11:58:37 AM)
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https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2159891/string-chinese-satellites-keep-real-time-watch-south
quote:
String of Chinese satellites to keep real-time watch on South China Sea to protect ‘national sovereignty’
Each reef and island in the contested waters will be monitored from space after launches start next year, developer says
China will next year start launching a series of satellites to track water conditions and traffic, and reinforce “national sovereignty” throughout the South China Sea, according to state media.
In all, six optical satellites, two hyperspectral satellites and two radar satellites will keep a real-time daily watch on the contested waters and monitor key areas several times a day as part of the Hainan satellite constellation system, China News Service reported on Monday.
The programme is being carried out by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and is expected to be completed by 2021.
In the programme’s first phase, three of the optical satellites will be launched in the second half of next year. They will be equipped with optical remote sensors, a system to identify ships and cameras designed to monitor the ocean’s surface.
The network’s initial priority was to cover all of the South China, Sea so the cameras in the first three satellites will be strong enough only to focus on large and mid-sized vessels, the report said.
The two hyperspectral satellites to be launched in the second phase in 2020 will be able to assess water conditions, while the synthetic aperture radar satellites to be sent into orbit in the third phase will be able to provide all-weather, high-definition monitoring.
Yang said that when the network is completed, it will cover the entire area between the 30th north and south parallels, and could offer “seamless monitoring and receiving system” of tropical regions.
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