China Power Construction’s First Energy-Specific Satellite "Dianjian-1" Successfully Launched

On May 15, "Dianjian-1", China’s first dedicated satellite for energy engineering, was launched into space and successfully entered its predetermined orbit, marking a significant milestone in the country’s independent monitoring of major energy infrastructure.

Led by Chengdu Engineering Corporation Limited under China Power Construction, "Dianjian-1" is a joint effort with China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) and Tianyi Space Technology Co., Ltd. As the first dedicated X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite in the energy infrastructure industry, its successful launch fills the gap in China’s dedicated space-based monitoring satellites for the energy sector, signifying that China Power Construction has completed the entire chain from satellite development to data application, achieving full independent control of core technologies and data for major project monitoring.

Equipped with an advanced planar phased array radar system, the satellite features multiple imaging modes with a maximum resolution better than 0.5 meters and a maximum scanning width of dozens of kilometers. Relying on repeat orbit interferometry technology, it can achieve millimeter-level surface deformation monitoring and boasts all-weather, all-time and cloud-penetrating observation capabilities. Its high-precision images can be widely applied throughout the whole life cycle of major projects.

The satellite will conduct large-scale identification of potential hazards such as landslides, collapses and land subsidence for national major infrastructure projects including hydropower, water conservancy, transportation and new energy. It will also carry out non-contact, continuous surface monitoring of structures such as dams, high slopes, tunnels and bridges, helping build an integrated intelligent perception system of "space, air, ground, underground and underwater".

The research and development team has achieved multiple breakthroughs in the overall satellite design. Through integrated mechanical, electrical and thermal design, the satellite’s weight is controlled within the 300-kilogram class. An innovative orbit design method has been adopted to achieve high-precision orbit revisit control at the 200-meter level, ensuring the success rate of Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) technology.

Moving forward, "Dianjian-1" will cooperate with a series of satellites under development, including the "Dianjian-2" low-orbit microwave link rain-measuring satellite, to build a spatial information support system covering the entire life cycle of energy engineering survey, design, construction and operation.