30 August 2019
China will send a remote sensing satellite into orbit for polar climate and environment observation in September. The project was initiated by scientists from the Beijing Normal University and developed by Shenzhen Aerospace Dongfanghong Development Ltd. It will be operated by Chinese University Corporation for Polar Research. The satellite called "Ice Pathfinder" (Code: BNU-1), which weighs only 10 kg, is equipped with high-resolution cameras that can achieve full coverage of the Antarctic and Arctic in five days and strengthen monitoring of sea ice drifts and ice-shelf calving. In addition, it has an automatic identification system for vessels to navigate through parts or the entirety of the polar regions.
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