China Launches High-Precision Greenhouse Gas Detection Satellite on Long March-4C
Summary: China successfully launched the High-Precision Greenhouse Gas Detection Satellite on April 17, 2026, at 12:10 PM Beijing Time from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center using a Long March-4C rocket. The satellite entered its planned orbit and the launch was a complete success. The satellite is equipped with five payloads capable of detecting greenhouse gases and pollutants with high precision, supporting China's carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.
Credit: CNSA
The High-Precision Greenhouse Gas Detection Satellite is a mission satellite under China's civil space infrastructure medium- and long-term development plan. Operating in a sun-synchronous orbit, the satellite carries five payloads capable of detecting greenhouse gases and polluting gases through multiple methods, meeting the needs of natural resources, agriculture, forestry, grassland, and meteorology departments.
The satellite will collaborate with the atmospheric environment monitoring satellite to form a comprehensive environmental monitoring space platform equipped with laser, ultraviolet, visible light, and infrared observation capabilities. This marks another step in China's space-based environmental change monitoring infrastructure.
The National Space Administration (CNSA) is responsible for organizing and coordinating major matters of the satellite project and launch permit approval. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment serves as the lead user department, responsible for organizing the application system construction.