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The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is the main contractor for the Chinese space program. It is state-owned and has a number of subordinate entities which design, develop and manufacture a range of spacecraft, launch vehicles, strategic and tactical missile systems, and ground equipment. It was officially established in July 1999 as part of a Chinese government reform drive, having previously been one part of the former China Aerospace Corporation. Various incarnations of the program date back to 1956.
In geostationary orbit Gaofen 4 will monitor the Earth in the visible light and infrared regions, at a resolution of 50m and 400m respectively for near time civilian applications. The spacecraft is the 4th Gaofen series spacecraft to be launched in China’s High-Definition Earth Observation Satellite (HDEOS) program. The satellite weighs 4600kg, is powered by 2 solar arrays and has an expected lifetime of 8 years.
Height 56.30 Meters
Max Stages 3
Mass To GTO 5500 kg
Liftoff Thrust 5924 kN
Diameter 3.35 Meters
Mass To LEO 12000 kg
Liftoff Mass 456 Tonnes
Launch Success 59
Consecutive Success 37
Maiden Flight 2007-05-13
Launch Failures 1