On 31 May 2020, China completed the launch of a sub-meter Earth imaging satellite, plus co-payload. The satellites were orbited by an Long March 2D/2, medium launch vehicle from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Northern China. The primary payload was the Gaofen-9 (02) satellite.
The Gaofen-9 units are reportedly civilian, Earth Imaging satellites, with sub-metre ground resolution. They are part of the CHEOS (China High-definition Earth Observation System) programme organised by CNSA (China National Space Administration). The co-payload in this mission was the 45 kg HEAD-4 (Hede-4) unit for Chinese company, HEAD Aerospace. HEAD-4 is part of HEAD’s planned AIS constellation.
