Gaofen-5 Gaofen-5 has been lauded as the "flagship of the environment and atmosphere observation satellite in the CHEOS program". Launched on 8 May 2018 from
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (TSLC) into
Sun-synchronous orbit, Gaofen-5 carries six
payloads: an Advanced
Hyperspectral Imagery sensor (AHSI), Atmospheric
Infrared Ultraspectral Sensor (AIUS), Directional
Polarization Camera (DPC), Environment Monitoring Instrument (EMI),
Greenhouse-gases Monitoring Instrument (GMI), and
Visual and Infrared Multispectral Sensor (VIMS). The Advanced Hyperspectral Imagery (AHSI) sensor payload aboard Gaofen-5 claims to be the first space-based hyperspectral imaging sensor utilizing both convex grating spectrophotometry and a three concentric-mirror (Offner) configuration. The AHSI uses spectrophotometry to measure the light
spectra reflected, transmitted, or emitted by an imaged object to detect or identify objects on the ground. AHSI has a 30 meter
spatial resolution and 5 nanometer
spectral resolution in the visible, near-infrared (NIR), and short-wave infrared (SWIR)
wavelength ranges. AIUS allows scientists to monitor
atmospheric circulation by tracing (
water vapor), temperature, pressure, and various carbon and halogen-containing gas pollutants such as
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs),
dinitrogen pentoxide, and
chlorine nitrate. A
Michelson interferometer, AIUS images wavelengths between 2.4 and 13.3
micrometers (near to mid-wave
infrared) at a 0.3
centimeter resolution and a ±10°
field of view. CAPI imaged clouds within 670 and 1640
nanometer channels but was restricted to fixed-angle imaging. The DPC aboard Gaofen-5 enables
atmospheric spectroscopy in three polarized bands (90, 670, and 865
nm; polarized at 0°, 60°, and 120°) and five non-polarized bands (443, 565, 763, 765, and 910 nm), all wavelengths from
green to
near-infrared (NIR). A step motor rotates the 512 × 512
pixel charge-coupled device (CCD) imager ±50° providing a 1,850 km swath of
imagery at 3.3 km resolution. == Satellites ==