China-Brazil joint monitor satellite sends back images

First batch of high-definition images sent back by the jointly-developed China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite 4.

China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Tuesday released the first batch of high-definition images sent back by the jointly-developed China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite 4 (CBERS-4).

The CBERS-4, or Ziyuan-1-04 as it is known in China, was sent into a Sun-synchronous orbit by a Long March-4B rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province on Sunday morning. The launch marked the 200th flight of the Long March rocket series.

The newly released images showed surface conditions around Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning province.

The Ziyuan-1-04 carries four cutting-edge cameras, such as a infrared multispectral scanner and a wide-field imager, which were developed by Brazil. They also sent back satellite images of the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro once the satellite was in orbit.

According to an agreement signed by China and Brazil, the two countries are considering developing a resource satellite 04A which is expected to be launched between 2017 and 2018.

The CBERS program aims to monitor, plan and manage land, forestry, water conservancy, agriculture and environmental protection.