China launches new ocean satellite, involving efforts of Geely's GEESPACE

Shanghai (Gagsoo)- On January 17, China successfully launched the "Lantan-1" satellite from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center using a Long March-2D carrier rocket. The satellite entered its designated orbit, marking the mission as a success.

The Lantan-1 was manufactured at Geely's Satellite Super Factory at the end of December last year, with the comprehensive involvement of GEESPACE, the satellite technology and commercial services company invested by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group.

The satellite is primarily overseen by Hangzhou Dianzi University, with key parameters validated by the Second Institute of Oceanography, China's Ministry of Natural Resources, the payload developed by the Hangzhou Institute of Advanced Studies, and the satellite platform manufactured by GEESPACE. This satellite is entirely designed, manufactured, and applied by Zhejiang province's companies and institutes, making it a key infrastructure for marine scientific research and environmental monitoring.

The Lantan-1 satellite focuses on remote sensing monitoring of water quality in the province's estuaries, bays, and nearshore waters, as well as remote sensing patrols of sea discharge outlets, providing support for ecological environmental protection and marine resource management.

Wu Zhihua, the head of the satellite platform from GEESPACE, explained that the satellite has low maintenance costs and can achieve long-term autonomous operation in orbit for up to one month thanks to the in-house developed algorithm software. The satellite also has high versatility, with a universal integrated electronic system developed for different types of satellites ranging from 50kg to 500kg. Through a high payload-to-weight ratio design, the satellite weighing 66kg can carry a payload of about 30kg, reducing costs while increasing effectiveness.

Geely's Satellite Super Factory integrates aerospace and automotive manufacturing capabilities. The factory has so far delivered 33 satellites into orbit, with a 100% delivery success rate and a cumulative in-orbit operation time of over 14,000 days.

Currently, the facility has an annual production capacity of 500 satellites, with a daily output of 1 to 2 satellites. The factory has managed to reduce satellite manufacturing costs by approximately 45%.