China is planning to build a remote sensing satellite network with global coverage by setting up more ground stations overseas. The move will enable China to provide diversified data to foreign users in a timely manner and to better serve social and economic developments.
Yin Liming, president of China Great Wall Industry, the country’s sole provider of commercial satellite launch services, told the Third Aerospace Internationalization Forum in Beijing that China is willing to work with foreign space agencies and international organizations to establish the network, which will mainly depend on Chinese-made satellites.
“By now, we have several ground stations in South America and Africa. We also installed a data applications station on the icebreaker Xuelong,” Yin said. “Next, we want to set up more stations globally, namely on every continent as well as one in the Arctic, to promote the use of Chinese remote-sensing satellites and to speed up the transmission of satellite data.”
In addition, China will establish ground application centers for its Beidou Navigation Satellite System in more foreign countries to further share navigation and positioning information.
Pakistan and China are partnering in a host of satellite data application programs in the country and that the efforts have been helping with telemedicine, agricultural forecasting, an early warning system for disaster and other public welfare services.