GaoFen-3
GaoFen-3 is the first Chinese high-resolution C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (C-SAR) satellite to acquire multi-polarized SAR imagery with a resolution of 1-500 meters and cover a total swath of 10-650 kilometers. The satellite provides imaging in 12 different modes, including spot mode, stripmap mode, and scan mode.
The main purpose of Gaofen-3 is to present preliminary quantitative results for wetland classification, but it has broader applications such as disaster monitoring, water management, maritime, and meteorology with high spatial resolution in all weather conditions.
GaoFen-3 satellite has 12 imaging modes, including spotlight, stripmap, and scan, with four polarization capabilities. More information can be retrieved in the following table:
Imaging Mode | Nominal swath width (km) | Incidence angle (º) | Spatial Resolution (m) |
Spotlight (SL) | 10 x 10 | 20~50 | 1 |
Ultra-fine stripmap (UFS) | 30 | 20~50 | 3 |
Fine stripmap (FSI) | 50 | 19~50 | 5 |
Wide fine stripmap (FSII) | 100 | 19~50 | 10 |
Standard stripmap (SS) | 130 | 17~50 | 25 |
Narrow ScanSAR (NSC) | 300 | 17~50 | 50 |
Wide ScanSAT (WSC) | 500 | 17~50 | 100 |
| Global observation (GLO) | 650 | 17~53 | 500 |
| Quad-pol stripmap (QPSI) | 30 | 20~41 | 8 |
| Wide quad-pol stripmap (QPSII) | 40 | 20~38 | 25 |
| Wave (WAV) | 5 x 5 | 20~41 | 10 |
| Expanded incidence angle(EXT) | 130 / 80 | 10~20 / 50~60 | 25 / 25 |
Key features
12 imaging modes with flexible spatial resolution to meet the technical needs of multiple users.
High-resolution synthetic aperture radar pictures (from 1m to 500m).
Using all three satellites, the same region can be imaged multiple times a day.
Weather and daylight-independent site access to any point on Earth.
Satellite tasking capability to meet your project requirements.
Part of +60 on-orbit Chinese Earth observation satellite series.
Key applications
Crisis management
Rainstorm-triggered landslides and debris monitoring
Extraction of flood-submerged area
Mapping of sea ice extent
Rainstorm-triggered landslides and debris monitoring
Extraction of flood-submerged area
Mapping of sea ice extent
Maritime
Shallow sea bathymetry extraction
Mapping sea surface oil spills and position forecasting
Sea waves and sea surface wind fields extraction
Shallow sea bathymetry extraction
Mapping sea surface oil spills and position forecasting
Sea waves and sea surface wind fields extraction
Environment
Mapping of current water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers, glaciers, snow, etc)
Characteristics of river basin systems extraction
High-resolution regional surface soil moisture monitoring
Mapping of current water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers, glaciers, snow, etc)
Characteristics of river basin systems extraction
High-resolution regional surface soil moisture monitoring
FAQs
The minimum order for GaoFen-3 imagery is 25 km² for Archive and 100 km² for New tasking, with minimum AOI width of 5km.
