China's hyperspectral satellite for Earth observation has gone into use after completing in-orbit tests, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the primary developer of the spacecraft, announced on Tuesday.

The satellite, Gaofen-5 02, was launched into space on September 7, 2021. Designers mounted seven payloads on it, including short-wave infrared hyperspectral cameras.

The onboard devices will monitor air, water and land on Earth while strengthening China's environmental protection efforts to fight pollution and provide support for achieving the carbon peaking and neutrality goals, said the ministry. The satellite can monitor carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, methane, ozone, and particulate matter with improved accuracy. In addition, it is able to detect different forest types including broad-leaved and coniferous forest.

The satellite can also offer high-precision, hyperspectral remote sensing data for users in other industries, such as mineral resource surveys, crop yield estimation, and climate change research. 

Compared with conventional optical imaging satellites that only observe an object's shape and size, hyperspectral ones are capable of combining spectra with images and detecting various ground objects and specific components of the atmosphere.

(With input from Xinhua)