(100 great changes) 'Satellite heroes' behind earthquake relief

(ECNS) -- Soon after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Luding County, southwest China's Sichuan Province at 12:52 pm on Sept. 5, 2022, the China Center for Resources Satellite Data & Application immediately started emergency rescue work. The Gaofen-3 resource satellite acquired the SAR images of the earthquake area at 7:11 pm on the same day and in no time distributed them to relevant emergency departments and units, providing information basis for situation research, decision-making and disaster relief work.

Over the past decade, China's resource satellites have made great progress. From the successful launch of its first independently developed civil high-resolution imaging satellite ZY-3 in 2012, to the Gaofen-3 series satellites entering the "three-star networking" era, China has continuously achieved breakthroughs in key technologies.

So far, China's resource satellites have provided more than 30 million satellite data products to users across the country, providing huge social and economic benefits.

At the same time, China's resource satellites have been fulfilling their international obligations. During some sudden disasters like the forest fires in Australia and mine dam collapse in Brazil, China quickly provided information to the affected countries, demonstrating the country's strength, wisdom, and responsibility to the world.