China has officially launched its northernmost satellite data receiving station in Heilongjiang Province on the Chinese mainland. Situated in the region's extreme cold, the new high-latitude facility will boost the country's Earth observation capabilities by increasing the time it can receive data from polar-orbiting satellites.
Polar-orbiting satellites follow paths over the North and South Poles, transmitting essential information on weather, environmental monitoring and climate patterns. Placing a ground station farther north extends each communication window, allowing for more data collection per satellite pass. This upgrade marks a significant step in China's efforts to strengthen space-based monitoring and support scientific research worldwide.
Reference(s):
China's icy eye: New satellite station braves extreme far north cold
cgtn.com
