Long March 4B | Ziyuan-3-04
Long March 4B • Long March
📝 Mission Description
This Long March 4C launch carries the Long March 4C | Unknown Payload mission, scheduled for December 16, 2025. The mission aims to deliver important payloads to orbit, contributing to our understanding of space and advancing technological capabilities.
ℹ️ Official Details
The ZY-3 (Ziyuan-3, 'Resource-3') series represents China's first high-resolution, stereoscopic mapping satellites for civilian use.
The second satellite is managed by the Satellite Surveying and Mapping Application Center (SASMAC).
The imaging payload consists of a three-line camera array and a multispectral imager.
The three-line panchromatic camera array to acquire stereoscopic imagery consists of three telescopic cameras with one oriented to the nadir and the other two each offset by 22° forward and backward in flight direction. The stereo mapping camera of ZY-3 has a resolution of 2.1 m for the nadir camera, and 2.6 m for the offset cameras. The swath width is 51 km.
The multispectral imager for environmental and vegetation monitoring consists of a three-mirror telescope and a cooled detector system sensitive to four wavelength bands to capture full-color imagery as well as near-infrared data. The ground resolution of this system is 5.8 m.
🎯 Post-Launch Analysis
The Long March 4B launch of Ziyuan-3-04 on December 16, 2025, achieved a successful orbital insertion and payload deployment, marking another milestone for China’s high-resolution mapping satellite program. The rocket performed flawlessly, delivering the ZY-3 satellite, managed by SASMAC, into its intended orbit. The payload, featuring a three-line stereoscopic camera array (2.1 m nadir, 2.6 m offset resolution) and a multispectral imager (5.8 m resolution), was deployed without issues, ensuring capabilities for detailed mapping and environmental monitoring. Key engineering outcomes include the confirmed functionality of the imaging systems and the precision of the launch vehicle’s trajectory. This success reinforces the reliability of the Long March 4B and validates the ZY-3 series’ design for civilian applications. It sets a strong foundation for future missions, potentially expanding China’s capacity for global resource and environmental surveillance.