ZY-3 04

ZY-3 04 (ZiYuan-3 04) is the fourth 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 16 December 2025 (UTC) from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center.^[1][2] CNSA's launch announcement stated the event at 11:17 a.m. Beijing Time on 17 December 2025, corresponding to 03:17 UTC on 16 December.^[1]

The satellite carries a stereo camera, a multispectral imager, and a laser altimeter, consistent with the ZiYuan-3 series payload suite.^[1] It flies in a sun-synchronous orbit at approximately 505 km altitude, continuing the series configuration of ZY-3 02 and ZY-3 03.^[2]

ZY-3 04 supports national mapping, land survey, and natural resource monitoring applications.