China Launches Haiyang-2E Ocean Observation Satellite
China successfully launched the Haiyang-2E (HY-2E) ocean observation satellite on July 2, 2026, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, according to Xinhua News Agency. The satellite lifted off atop a Long March 4B carrier rocket at 7:46 a.m. Beijing Time (23:46 UTC, July 1) and entered its planned orbit, marking the 654th flight of the Long March rocket series.
A New Addition to China’s Ocean Monitoring Fleet
The Haiyang-2E satellite is the latest member of China’s Haiyang-2 ocean dynamic environment satellite constellation. Designed as a polar-orbiting satellite, it will replace the Haiyang-2B satellite launched in 2018 and operate alongside the Haiyang-2C and Haiyang-2D satellites already in orbit. According to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), this marks the beginning of the second phase of China’s ocean dynamic environment satellite constellation project, ensuring the continuous and stable operation of the country’s ocean monitoring services.
Developed by CASC’s Fifth Academy (China Academy of Space Technology), the satellite carries four primary microwave remote sensing payloads: a radar altimeter, microwave scatterometer, microwave radiometer, and calibration radiometer. As reported by Science and Technology Daily, these instruments enable the satellite to precisely measure sea surface height, significant wave height, sea surface wind fields, and sea surface temperature with all-weather,全天候 capabilities.
Technical Achievement Under Challenging Conditions
The Long March 4B rocket, manufactured by CASC’s Eighth Academy (Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology), is a three-stage liquid-fueled vehicle measuring 45.6 meters in length with a launch mass of 250 tons. It has a payload capacity of up to 2.5 tons to a 700-kilometer Sun-Synchronous Orbit. For this mission, the rocket employed parallel fueling mode under high-temperature conditions for the first time, as the launch site experienced hot, dry weather accompanied by strong winds and sandstorms.
The Global Times noted that the successful launch under these challenging conditions demonstrates China’s growing operational flexibility and engineering maturity in space launch operations.
Applications and Strategic Importance
The Haiyang-2E satellite serves a wide range of applications, including marine rights protection, disaster prevention and mitigation, marine resource development, and marine scientific research. Its data supports weather forecasting, El Niño monitoring, and fishery forecasting for China’s distant-water fishing fleets. The satellite also carries an Automatic Identification System (AIS) for ship tracking, enhancing maritime navigation safety.
According to Science and Technology Daily, data from the Haiyang-2 series satellites has already been assimilated into China’s national numerical weather prediction systems, improving the country’s forecasting capabilities and reducing reliance on foreign satellite data sources.
Constellation Modernization
The Haiyang-2E launch represents a critical step in maintaining China’s space-based ocean monitoring infrastructure. As the Haiyang-2B satellite approaches the end of its operational life after eight years in service, the new satellite ensures no gaps in data collection. The planned Haiyang-2F satellite will further complete the second-phase constellation, upgrading China’s global ocean dynamic environment monitoring network.
What’s Next
With the Haiyang-2E now in orbit and undergoing in-orbit testing, attention will turn to the eventual launch of Haiyang-2F to complete the constellation’s second phase. China’s continued investment in its Haiyang satellite series underscores the growing strategic importance of space-based Earth observation for climate research, maritime domain awareness, and disaster response capabilities.
The successful mission also adds to China’s impressive launch cadence in 2026, with the Long March rocket family continuing to demonstrate reliability across diverse mission profiles and environmental conditions.