Sensor · Spaceborne

GF-7 Laser Altimeter

Missions → Gaofen-7 (GF-7) (Operational)

Two-beam 1064 nm laser altimeter on Gaofen-7 (GF-7), a Chinese stereo mapping satellite launched 2019-11-03. Provides ground elevation profiles for large-scale topographic mapping.

Sensor

The GF-7 laser altimeter is a two-beam spaceborne laser altimeter carried on Gaofen-7 (GF-7), a Chinese high-resolution stereo mapping satellite launched on 2019-11-03. Manufactured by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) and operated by CNSA and CRESDA, the instrument operates at 1064 nm and records full-waveform returns from each pulse.^[1]^[2]

The altimeter emits two beams simultaneously, providing ground elevation profiles that are used in conjunction with GF-7's stereo optical imagery for 1:10000-scale topographic mapping of China. Per-beam pulse energy is approximately 85.7 mJ for beam 1 and approximately 93.7-93.9 mJ for beam 2.^[1] The satellite operates at an orbital altitude of approximately 505 km. The footprint diameter at nadir is 17.5 m based on a 35 urad beam divergence at 505 km altitude; a rounded design specification of less than 30 m also applies to the same instrument.^[1] On-orbit full-waveform data quality has been assessed following commissioning.^[3] The instrument incorporates a footprint camera system for precise laser spot geolocation.^[4]

GF-7 was declared operational by CNSA in late 2020 following an in-orbit commissioning period.^[5]

Operator pricing

Pricing not publicly listed by operator

Supply chain position

carried by Gaofen-7 (GF-7)

Methods this sensor implements

Demonstrated

Spaceborne LiDAR altimetryvia Gaofen-7 (GF-7)

Capable, undemonstrated

None on record.

Sources

[1]Overview of the GF-7 Laser Altimeter System Mission, Earth and Space Science 2020peer reviewed2026-06-04
[2]Design and Data Processing of China's First Spaceborne Laser Altimeter System for Earth Observation: GaoFen-7, IEEE JSTARS 2020peer reviewed2026-06-04
[3]Preliminary Quality Analysis of GF-7 Satellite Laser Altimeter Full Waveform Data, ISPRS 2020peer reviewed2026-06-04
[4]Laser Spot Center Location Method for Chinese Spaceborne GF-7 Footprint Camera, Sensors 2020peer reviewed2026-06-04
[5]China's Gaofen-7 satellite put into service, CNSA Englishagency doc2026-06-04

Cite https://eo-atlas.org/products/sensor/gf-7-laser-altimeter Markdown twin → Field definitions → Suggest a correction →

How to cite this page

Plain text

GF-7 Laser Altimeter. EO-Atlas, SpectraWorks B.V. https://eo-atlas.org/products/sensor/gf-7-laser-altimeter (CC BY 4.0)

BibTeX

@misc{eoatlas:products:sensor:gf-7-laser-altimeter,
  title = {GF-7 Laser Altimeter},
  author = {{EO-Atlas}},
  publisher = {SpectraWorks B.V.},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
  url = {https://eo-atlas.org/products/sensor/gf-7-laser-altimeter}
}