China Space Day | CAS Xi'an Optoelectronics Aerospace Co., Ltd. unveils China's first high-resolution point-source methane monitoring microsatellite.

On the afternoon of April 24, as one of the important events of the China Space Conference, the Aerospace Big Data Sub-Forum of the International Forum on Commercial Aerospace Industry of the China Space Conference was held concurrently at the Wuhan International Expo Center.Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics CAS Aerospace Science and Technology Group Co.,LTD was invited to attend this sub-forum; the company's Deputy Director of Data ApplicationHead of Applications at CAS XiguangA keynote speech was delivered, and China's first high-resolution point-source methane monitoring microsatellite was officially launched.

In the report, the head of CAS Xiguang Applications provided a detailed analysis of the current status of spaceborne methane monitoring in my country and introduced it to the leaders and guests present.China's first high-resolution point source methane monitoring satellite, independently developed by CAS Xi'an Optics & Space Technology Co., Ltd.The presentations provided detailed explanations of the satellite's payload specifications, design, data processing procedures, and inversion algorithms.

The head of applications at CAS Xiguang Aerospace pointed out in the report that methane contributes far more to global warming than carbon dioxide. Over a 20-year timescale, the warming intensity caused by methane is 84 times that of carbon dioxide. Therefore, compared to controlling carbon dioxide, reducing methane emissions can achieve the goal of curbing rapid global warming in a shorter period. Satellite observation can achieve high-precision global coverage with high spatiotemporal resolution, enabling global monitoring and tracking of CH4 emissions, offering advantages such as wide coverage, high speed, and stable cycles. Therefore, in conjunction with the current national policy environment of sustainable development and dual-carbon issues, CAS Xiguang Aerospace...China took the lead in launching a commercial dual-carbon monitoring remote sensing satellite constellation plan based on ultra-fine spectral detection technology, and designed the first high-resolution point source methane monitoring microsatellite in China, the XIGUANG-004 satellite, which can monitor the concentration of major greenhouse gases.

XIGUANG-004 is China's first high spatial resolution methane monitoring satellite that is fully comparable to Canada's GHGsat satellite.Equipped with a methane concentration detector, a chlorophyll fluorescence detector, and a multispectral imaging camera, it has multiple functions, including methane emission changes and drift trends, identification and judgment of carbon production sources, and regional carbon neutrality capacity assessment.It has reached the highest technical standards in the field of point source methane satellite monitoring in China.Among them, the methane concentration detector, based on an advanced FP imaging system, can achieve a spectral resolution of 0.1 nm and a spatial resolution of 25 m. It has functions such as quantitative detection of methane column concentration, quantification of methane column concentration above the target location, and high spatial resolution monitoring of point source methane emissions. The chlorophyll fluorescence detector has a spectral resolution of up to 0.5 nm, which can effectively detect the weak fluorescence spectral changes produced by plant chlorophyll photosynthesis. It can realize the assessment of total plant production and provide guidance for carbon sink trading.

Weighing 75 kg, the satellite can play a positive role in dual-carbon remote sensing monitoring, point-source methane monitoring, and assessing the carbon neutrality potential of natural vegetation and artificial features. It will enable high-frequency, high-quantity, and high-coverage observation of global point-source methane leakage emissions and carbon sinks, effectively enhance regional dual-carbon monitoring capabilities, help my country accelerate the formation of a methane emission regulatory system, promote synergistic effects in pollution reduction and carbon reduction, and contribute to my country's ultimate goal of achieving carbon neutrality.

Based on the nation's leading high-precision point source methane satellite observation technology, this satellite can be widely applied in multiple fields and scenarios.In the field of environmental monitoring, it can be used to monitor and assess methane emissions from various industrial facilities and agricultural activities in real time, providing data support for the formulation and implementation of environmental protection policies. In the energy sector, this technology can be used for methane leak detection and early warning in oil and gas fields and coal mines, improving energy efficiency and safety. In the financial sector, greenhouse gas emission data can serve as an important indicator for assessing the environmental risks and sustainability of enterprises and projects, providing a reference for investment decisions.

The head of applications at CAS Xiguang stated that with increasing global attention to climate change and environmental protection, dual-carbon monitoring has become one of the important research areas for remote sensing satellites. Based on the technological foundation of China's first high-resolution point-source methane monitoring satellite, CAS Xiguang's methane constellation is expected to achieve further breakthroughs in the field of dual-carbon monitoring, providing more accurate data support for the country's major strategic decisions on "dual-carbon" sustainable development and global climate change research.

In March 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized at the Ninth Meeting of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission that achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality is a broad and profound systemic transformation of the economy and society. Carbon peaking and carbon neutrality should be incorporated into the overall layout of ecological civilization construction, and we should make a firm commitment to achieve the goals of carbon peaking before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060 on schedule.The "dual carbon" target is a solemn commitment my country has made to the world, demonstrating China's firm determination to actively address climate change, pursue a green and low-carbon development path, and promote the common development of all mankind.

In this process, major innovations in basic theories and breakthroughs in key technologies in the field of science and technology are important ways for my country to achieve its "dual carbon" goals.As a commercial aerospace company with technological attributes, it is the bounden mission and responsibility of CAS Xiguang Aerospace to resolutely implement my country's "dual carbon" strategic decision and contribute to the realization of my country's carbon neutrality goal.In the future, CAS Xiguang Aerospace will closely follow the strategic needs of the "dual carbon" goal, give full play to its technological and resource advantages, successfully complete the development and launch of China's first high-resolution point source methane monitoring satellite, accumulate a strong force for distinctive scientific and technological development, and contribute wisdom and demonstrate responsibility to promote my country's "dual carbon" goal.