🚀 China’s New ‘Climate Guardian’ Satellite Takes Flight
China has launched its first high-resolution methane-monitoring commercial satellite, the Xiguang-1 04, aboard the Lijian-1 Y5 rocket from a commercial aerospace site in the northwest. Blasting off at 12:03 p.m. local time on Monday, the mission carries 15 satellites designed to tackle one of Earth’s stealthiest climate villains: methane emissions.
🔭 Eyes on the Sky for a Greener Planet
Developed by Xi’an-based Xiopm SPACE, the satellite packs advanced tech including a methane camera, chlorophyll camera, and multi-spectral sensors. Think of it as a climate detective 🕵️♂️—tracking greenhouse gas leaks, identifying pollution sources, and assessing carbon neutrality progress with ‘high-frequency, high-precision’ data.
Methane, which traps 80x more heat than CO₂ over 20 years, is a major driver of global warming. This mission will help China—and the world—supervise emissions from industries like energy and agriculture while boosting eco-protection efforts.
🌱 More Than Just Methane
The batch also includes the Xiguang-1 05 satellite, equipped for hyper-spectral imaging to monitor crops, minerals, and environmental changes. Future plans? Xiopm SPACE is already developing next-gen satellites for methane and carbon monitoring, aiming to dominate the global climate tech race.
“This launch is a game-changer,” said Qin Jing, Xiopm’s chairperson. “It shows China’s commitment to climate action and space innovation.” 💪
