EO·Atlas
ZY-3 02
ZY-3 02 (ZiYuan-3 02) is the second satellite in China's ZiYuan-3 civil stereoscopic mapping series, operated by CNSA and manufactured by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). It launched on 30 May 2016 from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center into a sun-synchronous orbit.[1][2]
The satellite carries a stereoscopic camera system and an experimental laser altimeter operating at 1064 nm.[3] Peer-reviewed literature describes ZY-3 02 as the first Chinese satellite equipped with an experimental spaceborne laser altimeter; the instrument measures ground elevation to support 1:50,000-scale topographic mapping and land surface monitoring.[3][4]
The operational altitude is approximately 505 to 506 km, as recorded by WMO OSCAR and the CEOS EO Handbook.[2][5] Launch tracking sources recorded an initial insertion orbit of approximately 484 x 500 km that subsequently circularised to the station-keeping value.[1]
Data management for the ZY-3 series is handled by the Satellite Surveying and Mapping Application Center (SASMAC) under the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). ZY-3 02 was designed for a five-year operational lifetime according to Gunter's Space Page;[1] the satellite was continuing to operate beyond that design period as of the research date.
Supply chain position
- [1]ZY-3 series, Gunter's Space Pagecommunity2026-06-04
- [2]WMO OSCAR - ZY-3-02community2026-06-04
- [3]ZY3-02 Laser Altimeter Footprint Geolocation Prediction, Sensors 2017peer reviewed2026-06-04
- [4]ZY-3A mission overview, eoPortalcommunity2026-06-04
- [5]ZY-3-02 Mission Summary, CEOS EO Handbookcommunity2026-06-04
How to cite this page
Plain text
ZY-3 02. EO-Atlas, SpectraWorks B.V. https://eo-atlas.org/missions/zy-3-02 (CC BY 4.0)
BibTeX
@misc{eoatlas:missions:zy-3-02,
title = {ZY-3 02},
author = {{EO-Atlas}},
publisher = {SpectraWorks B.V.},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
url = {https://eo-atlas.org/missions/zy-3-02}
}