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Earth observation satellites in Peoples Republic of China 
  
The Peoples Republic of China has launched several satellites with Earth obser- 
vation payloads.  Chinasat-1, in July 1975, was in an orbit 185 x 464 km, 69° 
inclination, and its payload was identified as "remote sensing."  Chinasat-3, 
launched November 1975, had an orbit 173 x 484 km at 639 inclination with a 
"recoverable photocapsule" as payload.  Chinasat-7, launched December 1976 into 
167 x 489 km 59? orbit, had a "recovered photographic spacecraft" payload. No 
images from these missions have been made available to the international com- 
munity. t 
Future announced Earth observation missions include Chinasat-10, planned for 1983 
to carry a 2 channel, visible and infrared bands, meteorological radiometer. 
Chinasat-11 will be a meteorological satellite in geostationary orbit.  Chinasat-12, 
proposed for a 700 km polar orbit in 1985, will carry an 80m IFOV Earth resources 
data transmission sensor. China has announced (Nov. 1981) that it is proceeding 
with the development of its own ll-band multispectral scanner, linear array sensor, 
and synthetic aperture radar. 
A spacecraft launched in September 1982 into a 383 x 172 km altitude, 63? incli- 
nation orbit was described as a "reconnaissance satellite," but no information 
was given about the payload. It was recovered after five days in orbit. 
PRC has contracted to install a Landsat-4 data receiving station near Beijing, 
and expects to be receiving and processing data by late 1983. This station may 
also be configured to receive data from the French SPOT. 
Other proposed national systems 
  
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) developed an Earth observation 
spacecraft, "Bhaskara," which was launched by the USSR in June 1979 into a 
550 altitude km 519 inclination orbit. It carried two TV cameras providing 1 km 
resolution in two spectral bands for land observation and a two frequency micro- 
wave radiometer for ocean survey. An identical spacecraft, Bhaskara-2, was 
launched by the USSR into the same orbit in November 1981. ISRO has also an- 
nounced its intention to develop a second generation Indian Resources Satellite 
(IRS-1) which would carry a three spectral band sensor with IFOV variable from 
15 to 80m, and swath variable from 40 to 180 km. 
The Netherlands Agency for Aerospace Programmes (NIRV) has initiated a study of 
a Tropical Earth Resources Satellite (TERS) which would carry a Dutch-built multi- 
spectral linear array sensor in orbit. The sensor would have three spectral bands 
in the visible and near infrared wavelengths with a resolution of 20m and a swath 
of 100 km. A forward looking cloud sensor is planned to provide information for 
directing the primary sensor to look left or right of the ground track by means 
of a rotating mirror. The project is being planned in cooperation with Indonesia 
where the ground data reception station will probably be located. 
The Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS) has undertaken a study to define a 
radar system for monitoring ice conditions in the polar seas. The proposed 
parameters are for C-band with incidence angle 209 to 509, resolution 25 to 30m, 
and 175 km swath. The proposed altitude is 1000 km at 99.59 inclination. An 
independent spacecraft launched about 1990 by Ariane or. Shuttle is foreseen. The 
eventual program might entail two or three satellites in orbit simultaneously to 
provide the necessary coverage for adequate monitoring of the arctic seas and 
coastlines. 
The Space Research Institute (INPE) in Brazil has published its intention to 
develop a national remote sensing satellite which might be launched after 1985 
or 1986. The sensors would include a multispectral linear array and a high reso- 
lution panchromatic camera, but no details have been released. 
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