ZiYuan-1 (2C) CZ-4B, Taiyuan launch - December 22nd, 2011

[Satori]

The ZiYuan-1 (2C) Earth observation satellite will probably be launched on December 15 from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center

[input~2]

An article  (in Chinese) giving some information on ZY-1-2C payload
http://news.3snews.net/industry/20111122/17225.shtml

[input~2]

An article  (in Chinese) giving some information on ZY-1-2C payload
http://news.3snews.net/industry/20111122/17225.shtml

A tentative translation into English for the data in this article (which also gives data on ZY-3):

ZY-1-2C:

2 HR cameras: spatial resolution: 2.36m Joint swath: 54 km

Panchromatic multispectral camera: resolution  5m and 10 m, swath  60 km

ZY-3:
4 cameras: "front, "back","facing" and "multispectral facing"

"front" & "back" cameras: resolution 3.5m, swath: 52.3 km

"facing" camera: resolution 2.1m, swath 51 km

"multispectral facing" camera: resolution 6 m, swath 51 km

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Hmm... what does Mao Zedong's birthday have to do with this launch? 
Looks like December 26th is the new target date for this launch.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

This guy said that the launch is on December 23rd.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

BREAKING NEWS: The launch could happen within the next few hours! 
If the spacecraft is aiming for the same lighting conditions in the Sun-synchronous orbit as the preceding CBERS missions, then the launch time could be around 03:15 UTC, give or take 15 minutes. 

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Looks like it's rather cold there...

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Spectators has arrived at the viewing area...

[Chris Bergin]

Well if spectators are arriving, that'll be for a launch!

Great work keeping an eye on this, Galactic Penguin SST! Rui will be alseep, so I'll see if I can write an article

Is this:

"ZY-1-2C:

2 HR cameras: spatial resolution: 2.36m Joint swath: 54 km

Panchromatic multispectral camera: resolution  5m and 10 m, swath  60 km"


All we have on the satellite?

[spacex]

Nice surprise! If this launch takes places, it will mean that China has for the first time surpassed the US in yearly launches!

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Well if spectators are arriving, that'll be for a launch!

Great work keeping an eye on this, Galactic Penguin SST! Rui will be alseep, so I'll see if I can write an article

Is this:

"ZY-1-2C:

2 HR cameras: spatial resolution: 2.36m Joint swath: 54 km

Panchromatic multispectral camera: resolution  5m and 10 m, swath  60 km"


All we have on the satellite?

I believe it has few changes from the original Sino-Brazillian CBERS satellite, other than a better data compression ratio...

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Already at T-5 minutes and counting....

[Chris Bergin]

Cool. Actually have enough info for an article (thanks to Rui's work on the launch center and the vehicle, so we're good!)

Will be nice if someone posts a launch image (I'll accredit) otherwise I'll use stock.

Nice surprise! If this launch takes places, it will mean that China has for the first time surpassed the US in yearly launches!

That's interesting! This is China's record +2, but what was the year for the US record? I might use that angle

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Cool. Actually have enough info for an article (thanks to Rui's work on the launch center and the vehicle, so we're good!)

Will be nice if someone posts a launch image (I'll accredit) otherwise I'll use stock.

Nice surprise! If this launch takes places, it will mean that China has for the first time surpassed the US in yearly launches!

That's interesting! This is China's record +2, but what was the year for the US record? I might use that angle

There are 18 orbital launches from the US in 2011 (3x STS, 3x Delta II, 3x Delta IV, 5x Atlas V, 2x Minotaur I, 1x Taurus, 1x Minotaur IV). This will be the 19th Chinese orbital launch attempt in 2011 (out of 21 predicted in early 2010!). Last year China and the US tied for 15 orbital launches each.

[Chris Bergin]

Excellent!

[spacex]

Indeed, both countries have had 1 launch failure each this year. China continues to ramp up its launches by a significant number year after year. This trend looks to continue in the near future. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable than me, can tell me what year the US had their highest number of orbital launches?

Cool. Actually have enough info for an article (thanks to Rui's work on the launch center and the vehicle, so we're good!)

Will be nice if someone posts a launch image (I'll accredit) otherwise I'll use stock.

Nice surprise! If this launch takes places, it will mean that China has for the first time surpassed the US in yearly launches!

That's interesting! This is China's record +2, but what was the year for the US record? I might use that angle

There are 18 orbital launches from the US in 2011 (3x STS, 3x Delta II, 3x Delta IV, 5x Atlas V, 2x Minotaur I, 1x Taurus, 1x Minotaur IV). This will be the 19th Chinese orbital launch attempt in 2011 (out of 21 predicted in early 2010!). Last year China and the US tied for 15 orbital launches each.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

While waiting for news about the launch, here's the Wikipedia article on the original China–Brazil Earth Resources Satellite program, which used the same satellite platform and payloads as the one launching today (the program has moved to new satellites with launch scheduled for late next year).

spacex: I believe the US has launched more than 50 times per year for some time during the 1960s....

[Chris Bergin]

I hope this one hasn't gone wrong. Long gap of no news after T-5 mins.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Apparently launched. Stand by for news....

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Launch success!