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ZY-2 01, 02, 03 (JB-3 1, 2, 3)

ZY 2 (CAST)

ZY-2 (Ziyuan-2, 'Resource-2'), while reported as a civilian Earth observation system, was actually code-named JB-3 (Jianbing-3) and was China's first high-resolution military imaging satellite. They are reportedly used for area surveillance.

In October 2000 Chinese officials denied that the ZY-2 satellite had a military mission. It was reported to be a remote-sensing satellite equipped with CCD cameras and an infrared multispectral scanner that could only identify objects on the ground with a resolution of several dozen meters to 1 km.

The new satellite employed digital-imaging technology and has a resolution of 2 m or less. The satellite was designed and built by the Chinese Academy of Space Technology and was developed indigenously. It was said to be more advanced than earlier sensing satellites and was expected to have an orbital life of two years.

The camera provides more than three times the resolution of the ZY-1 earth resources satellite. The satellite used a bus of new design and demonstrated the capability to maneuver in orbit, adjusting its orbit after launch.

The ZY-2 (JB-3) series was reportedly replaced by the Yaogan 5 (JB-10 ?) series.

Nation: China
Type / Application: Earth Observation
Operator: PLA
Contractors: CAST
Equipment:
Configuration: Phoenix-Eye-2 bus
Propulsion:
Power: 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
Lifetime: 2 years
Mass:
Orbit: 474 km × 492 km, 97.42° (#01); 470 km × 482 km, 97.40° (#02); 472 km × 482 km, 97.33° (#03)
Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
ZY-2 01 (JB-3 1) 2000-050A 01.09.2000 TY LC-7 CZ-4B
ZY-2 02 (JB-3 2) 2002-049A 27.10.2002 TY LC-7 CZ-4B
ZY-2 03 (JB-3 3) 2004-044A 06.11.2004 TY LC-7 CZ-4B

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