LT1
China's L-SAR 01 is a satellite group composed of two satellites equipped with L-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR), namely the L-SAR 01A and the L-SAR 01B. The former, L-SAR 01A was put in space on January 26, 2022, and its first-track data was received in February 9.
The SAR is a microwave-imaging radar system that emits electromagnetic waves to Earth and receives echoes. It can take all-weather, round-the-clock, high-resolution microwave pictures of the land surfaces, monitoring in that way the geological environment, landslides, and earthquakes.
The two satellites are designed to provide high quality data to support land resource, mapping, forestry, and disaster prevention and reduction.
Some general information for HEAD Aerospace LT1 imagery:
Constellation | L-SAR 01 |
Launch | 2022 (L-SAR 01A, L-SAR 01B) |
Imaging modes | 6 |
Polarization | Full polarization |
Baseline accuracy | 1.2 cm |
Coverage | 85ºS - 85ºN |
Revisit time | up to 4 days |
| Swath width | 110 km |
| Orbit | Sun-synchronous 607.05 km altitude |
Imaging mode | Polarization | Resolution (m) | Swath width (km) |
Stripmap 1 | HH or VV | 3 | 50 |
Stripmap 1 | HH or VV | 12 | 100 |
Stripmap 1 | HH+HV or VV+VH | 3 | 50 |
Stripmap 1 | HH+HV or VV+VH | 6 | 30 |
Stripmap 1 | HH or VV | 24 | 160 |
ScanSAR | HH or VV | 30 | 400 |
Key features
Wide coverage and high resolution L-band SAR imagery up to 3 meters.
Up to 400 km swath capable of continuous imaging.
Coverage of areas that are located between 85ºS and 85ºN.
Weather and daylight-independent site access.
Satellite tasking capability to meet your project requirements.
Part of +60 on-orbit Chinese Earth observation satellite series.
Key applications
Marine
Sea ice monitoring
Coastal and inland water quality monitoring at regional and country level
Shallow sea bathymetry extraction
Sea ice monitoring
Coastal and inland water quality monitoring at regional and country level
Shallow sea bathymetry extraction
Infrastructure
Monitoring illegal construction
Rainstorm-triggered landslides and debris monitoring
Analyzing roads' condition
Monitoring illegal construction
Rainstorm-triggered landslides and debris monitoring
Analyzing roads' condition
Agriculture
Water management and irrigation planning
Identification of plant growth stages
Post-disaster assessment (floods, drought)
Water management and irrigation planning
Identification of plant growth stages
Post-disaster assessment (floods, drought)
FAQs
The minimum order for LT1 imagery is 25 km² for Archive and 100 km² for New tasking, with minimum AOI width of 5km.
