ZY-3 03

ZY-3 03 (ZiYuan-3 03) is the third 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 25 July 2020 from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center into a sun-synchronous orbit at approximately 505 km altitude.^[1][2]

The satellite carries a stereoscopic camera system and a laser altimeter operating at 1064 nm. A peer-reviewed calibration study describes the ZY-3 03 laser altimeter as a second-generation instrument compared to the ZY-3 02 altimeter, noting improved pointing accuracy;^[3] Gunter's Space Page describes the same instrument without distinguishing a generation change.^[1] In both descriptions the instrument type and wavelength are consistent with the ZiYuan-3 series altimetry payload.

The mission supports national topographic mapping, digital elevation model production, and land cover monitoring applications. Operational data management for the ZY-3 series is conducted by the Satellite Surveying and Mapping Application Center (SASMAC) under the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR).