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New Chinese satellite uses hyperspectral technology to observe the Earth in details invisible to common cameras, with applications ranging from agriculture to mining and environmental monitoring.
On March 16, 2026, China placed the Xiguang-1 06, a commercial hyperspectral satellite, into orbit to observe the Earth by identifying the spectral signatures of materials.
Launched by the Kuaizhou-11 Y7 rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, the equipment is part of a planned constellation to expand the use of space data in agriculture, mining, environmental monitoring, and carbon management.
The satellite was developed by Zhongke Xiguang Aerospace, a Chinese company specializing in hyperspectral remote sensing.
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According to information released by the company and the Chinese state press, the Xiguang-1 06 operates with coverage from 400 to 2,500 nanometers, a range that spans from visible light to shortwave infrared.
This coverage allows capturing data that do not appear in conventional images.
Instead of recording only shapes, colors, and contours, hyperspectral sensors analyze how different materials reflect or absorb electromagnetic radiation.
From this pattern, it is possible to differentiate types of vegetation, soils, minerals, water bodies, and artificial structures.
How a hyperspectral satellite works
Traditional satellites record the Earth’s surface in a few spectrum bands.
Hyperspectral ones, however, divide the light reflected by each target into several narrow bands, forming a kind of “fingerprint” of each material.
This technique is used in remote sensing to separate elements that may appear similar in a common image.
A forest, for example, may appear as a single green mass in an orbital photograph.
With hyperspectral sensors, researchers can differentiate plant species, identify changes in plant health, and detect signs of stress before they are perceptible to the naked eye.
The analysis depends on technical models, instrument calibration, and comparison with reference data.
The comparison with a computed tomography scan was used by Kou Yimin, chief engineer of Zhongke Xiguang Aerospace, to explain the proposal of the satellite.
According to him, the equipment not only observes the shape of the surface but can also analyze material composition, monitor crops, and identify ecological risks that would not be evident in regular images.
What makes the Xiguang-1 06 different
The Xiguang-1 06 was presented by China Daily as the first commercial hyperspectral satellite in orbit in the country with full coverage of 400 to 2,500 nanometers.
According to the publication, the equipment works with 26 independent spectral bands and sent sharp images within the first 24 hours after reaching orbit.
The range observed by the satellite includes visible, near-infrared, and shortwave infrared.
In remote sensing, these regions of the spectrum are used to identify physical and chemical differences between materials.
In crops, for example, healthy plants and stressed plants can show distinct responses at certain wavelengths, even when they appear similar in a regular image.
This type of data is applied in tasks that require more than visual recognition.
In agricultural areas, the technology can support monitoring crop growth and indicate variations associated with irrigation, diseases, or soil conditions.
In vegetation studies, the United States Geological Survey points out that hyperspectral data contributes to more detailed models, maps, and monitoring systems of agricultural crops and vegetation cover.
Applications in agriculture, mining, and environment
In China, the first applications mentioned for the Xiguang-1 06 include monitoring high-value crops in Sichuan and Yunnan, such as tea and plants used in traditional Chinese medicine.
In mining regions in the northwest of the country, the satellite is also used to support alerts about geological risks, including landslides, according to information released by China Daily.
The use of the technology is not limited to the agricultural sector.
Hyperspectral sensing is also employed in geology, mineral resource mapping, soil quality assessment, and environmental studies.
The United States Geological Survey describes the technique as a tool used in mineral mapping and in terrestrial and planetary applications.
This identification occurs because minerals, rocks, soils, and plants reflect light in different ways.
By comparing these patterns with spectral libraries, researchers can recognize materials present on the surface and map areas that require additional technical analysis.
In recent projects, hyperspectral data has also been used to study the mineralogy of large areas and support surveys related to critical minerals.
In environmental monitoring, the same approach can assist in observing changes in water bodies, vegetation changes, and signs associated with industrial activities.
Nevertheless, the interpretation of the data does not rely solely on the satellite.
Each application requires field validation, cross-referencing with other information bases, and expert analysis.
Xiguang Constellation plans 158 satellites by 2030
The Xiguang-1 06 is part of the Xiguang series, planned by Zhongke Xiguang Aerospace to form an Earth observation constellation.
According to the company, the plan envisions 158 satellites by 2030, with 108 general-purpose hyperspectral units, 40 focused on carbon monitoring, and 10 with specific functions.
The company claims to operate in different stages of the sector’s chain, from the conception of satellites to the operation of the constellation and the provision of data services.
On its website, Zhongke Xiguang presents itself as a commercial hyperspectral remote sensing company created in January 2021 and linked to the ecosystem of the Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The expansion of this type of service occurs at a time of growing commercial use of space data.
For years, hyperspectral missions in orbit were more associated with governmental and scientific programs.
More recently, companies have started to develop their own constellations to serve sectors such as agriculture, mining, forest management, carbon monitoring, and water resource tracking.
In the case of China, the Xiguang constellation is presented as a structure aimed at the frequent collection of spectral data in different regions.
A network with a larger number of satellites can reduce the interval between observations of the same area and increase the availability of information for governments, companies, and research centers.
The effectiveness of this system, however, depends on the quality of the sensors, the regularity of measurements, and the ability to transform the captured signals into verifiable data.
The idea of an “Earth tomography” summarizes the attempt to observe the planet beyond shapes and colors.
The technical objective is to identify chemical and physical clues recorded in the light reflected by soils, crops, rocks, forests, and bodies of water.
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