China's 'Tianlu-1' Satellite Successfully Launched to Study Middle and Upper Atmosphere

BEIJING, DEC 8 (ANI) - A cutting-edge satellite developed by China's private satellite manufacturer GalaxySpace, Tianlu-1, has successfully entered its preset orbit after a launch that also sent two other satellites into space.

The advanced satellite is equipped with high vertical resolution, multi-parameter detection, and all-weather observation capabilities, designed specifically for limb-sounding detection of the middle and upper atmosphere. According to Xinhua news agency, this region remains largely unexplored and underutilised.

The Tianlu-1 satellite offers a range of tools and technologies for exploring the middle and upper atmosphere, enabling systematic collection of spatial datasets that feature vertical profiles of the affected regions. These profiles provide critical data on atmospheric density, temperature, composition, and wind fields, which can significantly enhance extreme weather forecasting, space weather research, and climate change studies.

"Limb-sounding remote sensing represents an innovative approach in space-based atmospheric observation," said Xi Bin, chief executive engineer at GalaxySpace. "By analysing spectral data from atmospheric emissions, scattering, and absorption, the satellite can derive critical physical parameters of the atmospheric layers."

The Tianlu-1 satellite is equipped with three payloads capable of capturing high-resolution vertical profiles of temperature, atmospheric composition, density, and wind field vectors simultaneously.

According to Xi Bin, future detection missions will provide valuable data to strengthen China's independent satellite communications and navigation reliability, while supporting the deployment and application of high-altitude platforms.

The successful launch marks the 556th flight mission involving the Long March-2D carrier rocket series from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The satellite joined forces with Lantan-1 and a Pakistani satellite in the ambitious space mission.