China's high-resolution earth observation system, the Gaofen-5 and Gaofen-6 satellites are officially operational. CGTN's Liu Yang tells us what they'll be used for, and the benefits they could bring.

Yet another milestone for Chinese space scientists. As the Gaofen-5 and Gaofen-6 satellites begin operations, experts say they'll greatly improve China's earth observation capabilities. They'll also provide vital information about pollution prevention and control, green development, rural vitalization, Belt and Road construction and much more.

ZHOU QINGBO, DIRECTOR INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES AND AGRICULTURAL REGIONALIZATION "The United States conducts global crop monitoring for agricultural trade. For the EU, remote sensing monitoring on agriculture mainly serves food subsidies. For China, using Gaofen-6 mainly provides food security."

The commissioning of Gaofen-5 opens a new chapter in China 's satellite hyperspectral remote sensing. The satellite is the world's first comprehensive hyperspectral observation satellite for atmosphere and land. It has realized the world's first heterodyne interference temperature and greenhouse gas monitoring in space, and the highest spectral resolution in China. It is used for land resources, meteorology and mineral resources.

LIU YANG BEIJING "Experts say the Gaofen-6 earth observation satellite can observe chlorophyll and other nutritional content of crops, and help to estimate yields of crops such as corn, rice, and soybeans."

Gaofen-6 is the first satellite with a red-edge band sensor in China, and the world's first high-resolution satellite with wide-field multi-spectrum via that band. It provided emergency data services for major disasters in China and abroad in 2018. Experts say China will launch the Gaofen-7 at the end of this year. Liu Yang, CGTN, Beijing.