Gaofen 11: China launches high-resolution Earth observation satellite

China successfully launched Gaofen-11, an optical remote sensing satellite, as part of the country’s high-resolution Earth observation project.

• It was launched on board of Long March 4B rocket from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi Province. 
• It was overall the 282nd flight mission by Long March carrier rocket.

About the Gaofen-11 satellite:

• Gaofen-11 is a sub-meter resolution optical satellite. 
• It was developed by China Academy of Space Technology (CAST).
• It is the sixth in Gaofen series launched this year, following triplet of Gaofen-1 satellites and larger Gaofen-5 and Gaofen-6, all placed in Sun-synchronous orbits.
• It will become part of China High-resolution Earth Observation System (CHEOS) initiated in 2010 to provide all-weather, all-day coverage by 2020 with optical and synthetic aperture radar satellites, and could also include airborne and near-space systems such as stratospheric balloons.
• Gaofen-11 satellite will be used for land survey, urban planning, road network design, agriculture, and disaster relief.
• Its data will also be used for Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
• China had unveiled BRI in 2013 with an aim to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes.

About the Gaofen project:

• Gaofen means "high resolution" in Chinese. 
• It is an ambitious space project of China that aims to launch seven high-definition observation satellites before 2020.
• Gaofen-1 was the first satellite of the project series which was launched in April 2013.
• Presently, Gaofen-1 and Gaofen-2 satellites, part of Gaofen project series, are orbiting around the earth at low orbits around 600-700km.
• Since the launch of Gaofen project, China has gained an increasingly clearer view of the planet.

Questions:

Q1. What is the name of the optical remote sensing satellite that China has launched, as part of the country’s high-resolution Earth observation project?
a. Gaofen-111
b. Gaofen-11
c. Gaofen-101
d. None of the above

Q2. The satellite was developed by:
a. China Academy of Space Technology (CAST)
b. China Academy of Space Sciences (CASS)
c. China Academy of Space Exploration (CASE)
d. None of the above