China's first commercial high-resolution point source methane monitoring satellite released its first dual images of "carbon source" and "carbon sink," and established a Sino-French joint remote sensing monitoring laboratory.

Ushering in a new era of precise source tracing

Figure 2025 China Space Day: International and Commercial Space Forces Forum on Addressing Climate Change

China's Solution Leads a Revolution in Methane Monitoring: First Images from Xiguang-1 04 Satellite Released

Qin Jing, Chairman and General Manager of KOSI Aerospace, delivered a keynote speech in the picture.

As the only private enterprise invited by the China National Space Administration to deliver a keynote speech, Qin Jing, Chairman and General Manager of CAS Xiguang Aerospace, delivered a special report entitled "China's Solution for Methane Satellites in Global Warming—The First Dual Images of 'Carbon Source' + 'Carbon Sink' from China's First Commercial High-Resolution Point Source Methane Monitoring Satellite Released." As the first commercial satellite in China dedicated to point source methane monitoring, Xiguang-1 04 was launched into orbit on November 11, 2024. Integrating high-precision methane detection, chlorophyll fluorescence, and multispectral imaging payload systems, it possesses three core functions: dynamic monitoring of methane emissions, pollution source tracing, and regional carbon neutrality assessment. This marks a significant breakthrough for my country's commercial aerospace industry in the field of greenhouse gas monitoring.

Map showing methane emission distribution from China's first commercial point-source methane monitoring satellite.

Chlorophyll fluorescence distribution map published for the first time

As the second largest greenhouse gas, methane's warming effect is dozens of times greater than that of carbon dioxide. The Xiguang-1 04 satellite, through its innovative "carbon source + carbon sink" dual-track monitoring system, can simultaneously generate methane emission distribution maps and chlorophyll fluorescence distribution maps. The first-ever chlorophyll fluorescence maps of India and Bangladesh, along with the inversion results of a methane leak at a coal mine, released at the conference, fully demonstrate the satellite's application potential in ecological environment monitoring, industrial emission detection, and gas leak detection. This not only fills the gap in methane monitoring within China's commercial aerospace sector but also provides strong data support and technical assurance for global greenhouse gas governance.

China and France join forces to build a satellite remote sensing monitoring laboratory for methane emissions.

The picture shows the signing of a cooperation agreement between Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics CAS Aerospace Science and Technology Group Co.,LTD and the French company AbsolutSensing.

During the meeting, CAS Xiguang Aerospace and France's AbsolutSensing signed a cooperation agreement to establish the "China-France Joint Methane Emission Satellite Remote Sensing Monitoring Laboratory".

The Sino-French joint methane emission satellite remote sensing monitoring laboratory was established.

AbsolutSensing, a French company, is a global leader in high-resolution remote sensing of greenhouse gases from space, renowned for its advanced technology and extensive experience in greenhouse gas monitoring. This signing marks the full commencement of cooperation between the two parties in areas such as methane monitoring technology, data processing and analysis, and satellite remote sensing applications. By fully leveraging their respective strengths, they will jointly promote the innovation and development of methane monitoring satellite technology, contributing wisdom and strength to the governance of global climate change.

Gathering Global Wisdom to Jointly Promote Green Development

Figure 2025 China-France Climate Change Working Group Seminar

On the eve of Space Day, at the 2025 China-France Climate Change Working Symposium held on April 23, CAS Xiguang Aerospace, as the only invited commercial aerospace company, showcased the "technological core" of the Xiguang-1 04 satellite to a group of top scientists from China and France. This closed-door meeting, chaired by Academician Gu Xingfa of the International Academy of Astronautics, brought together more than ten scientists from the French Space Centre, the French Embassy in China, the China National Space Administration's Earth Observation Center, the National Forestry and Grassland Survey and Planning Institute, the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. They engaged in in-depth exchanges on technical pathways, calibration and verification methods for greenhouse gas emission monitoring, as well as subsequent China-France satellite data exchange and carbon sequestration cooperation.

Photo: Scene from the China-France Climate Change Working Closed-Door Seminar on April 23, 2025

The experts at the meeting unanimously agreed that aerospace technology possesses unique advantages and enormous potential in addressing global climate change. Accurate monitoring and assessment of greenhouse gas emissions through satellite remote sensing technology can provide scientific evidence and decision-making support for global climate change governance. In the future, China and France are expected to further strengthen technological cooperation, comprehensively carrying out technological cooperation based on satellite remote sensing for greenhouse gas monitoring. Through technological iteration and data sharing, they aim to shift climate governance from a "zero-sum game" to "joint action," truly reflecting the profound value of a "community with a shared future for mankind."

Technological innovation leads the future; aerospace technology benefits people's lives.

The successful hosting of this international conference on space-based climate change response not only established an important platform for exchange and cooperation in the global aerospace technology field, but also provided valuable opportunities for international aerospace companies such as CAS Xiguang Aerospace to showcase their capabilities and expand their international cooperation. In the future, CAS Xiguang Aerospace will continue to uphold its spirit of innovation and practical philosophy, continuously improving its technological strength and service level, and contributing more wisdom and strength to promoting global climate change governance. At the same time, the company will actively seek cooperation and exchange opportunities with international counterparts to jointly promote the greater role of aerospace technology in addressing global climate change.