According to Space News (Andrew Jones) a new planned Chinese optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Earth observation satellite constellation dubbed 36 Tiangan has been announced which is designed to help disaster prevention, early warning and natural resource monitoring. According to the report, the “36 Tiangang” – a 36 spacecraft constellation project led by Tianjin Satcom Geohe Technologies Co., Ltd., with involvement from Satellite (Zhuhai) Aerospace Technology Co, Ltd. will use facilities under the Harbin Institute of Technology and backed by the Ministry of Natural Resources. The spacecraft, which have a reported resolution of 10 m, will begin launching next year with completion of the constellation in 2023.
