China-France Space Cooperation: Two countries launch first-ever joint oceanography satellite

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Europe

03:09

China and France are stepping up efforts to fight climate change with a bold new scientific venture. The countries have just launched their first ever jointly developed oceanography satellite from China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The satellite will be used to monitor wind-speed and wave-patterns over the world's oceans. CGTN' Wu Lei has more from the launch site.

WU LEI JIUQUAN SATELLITE LAUNCH CENTER "The gusting of oceanic winds, the rhythms of the waves. Learning to better monitor weather patterns like these is crucial to the fight against climate change. And researchers are hoping that the launch of the first ever joint oceanographic satellite developed by China and France, will be a step towards doing just that."

Carried into space aboard a made-in-China Long March 2C rocket, the observation system carries two important radar instruments: a French system designed to measure the direction and wavelength of ocean tidal patterns, and a Chinese apparatus, which focuses on wind strength and direction.

WANG LILI, CHIEF COMMANDER CHINA FRANCE OCEANOGRAPHY SATELLITE "This is the first time in the world that a satellite will monitor ocean surface winds and waves at the same time. It's also the first time both French and Chinese radar instruments will be applied together in one project."

The effort was first conceived as part of a 2005 deal between the two countries. In the 13 years since, French and Chinese researchers have worked side-by-side, and overcome a range of obstacles, in their quest to make the dream a reality.

PATRICK CASTILLAN, PROJECT MANAGER NATIONAL CENTER FOR SPACE STUDIES, FRANCE "For the ground system, we provide two earth stations, located at the earth pole that could be able to make some real time collection of the data. And we also provide the mission center, able to process the data."

Their efforts quickly drew high praise from the leaders of China and France. Presidents Xi Jinping and Emmanuel Macron wasted no time exchanging congratulatory letters, highlighting the significance of the joint space project and the two countries' shared commitment to tackling the threat of climate change.

LIU JIANQIANG, DEPUTY DIRECTOR NATIONAL SATELLITE OCEAN APPLICATION CENTER, MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES "In practical terms, the satellite will be used to improve forecasts of strong storms, evacuate people in coastal areas in advance and help ensure maritime safety based on the study of wave patterns."

The monitoring data will be shared by scientists from both countries. But it will also be available for scientists around the world to help them improve climate models by better understanding how oceans affect the atmosphere.

WL, CGTN, at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.