[Tianyi Space’s High-Frequency, High-Resolution InSAR Satellite “Caiyun SAR01” Launched]
On June 23, 2026, the Yunnan Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources Exploration and Development, Yunnan Geological and Mineral Resources Group Co., Ltd., and Tianyi Space Technology Co., Ltd. held a grand launch ceremony in Weihai for the “Caiyun SAR01” satellite (Tianyi 51 satellite), sending off the satellite transport convoy to the launch site. The satellite is scheduled to launch soon.
“Caiyun SAR01” satellite, jointly developed by the Yunnan Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources Exploration and Development, Yunnan Geological and Mineral Resources Group, and Tianyi Space, is a high-resolution, wide-swath synthetic aperture radar satellite designed entirely with the operational needs of InSAR (Inductively Coupled Aperture Radar Interferometry) in mind. This satellite can conduct high-frequency InSAR re-orbit observations, significantly improving the early identification and emergency monitoring capabilities of geological disasters.
The “Caiyun SAR01” satellite possesses all-weather, all-day imaging capabilities, unaffected by clouds, rain, dense fog, or nighttime lighting conditions, effectively filling the optical remote sensing monitoring blind spot in Yunnan during the long six-month rainy season. This satellite will comprehensively support key tasks such as geological disaster prevention and control in the complex terrain of Southwest China, safety monitoring of major infrastructure, dynamic supervision of mines, emergency rescue for floods and earthquakes, and routine surveys of natural resources along the border. Relying on its high-quality SAR data, Yunnan Province will construct a complete technical system encompassing satellite on-orbit operation, payload imaging acquisition, InSAR professional data processing, and in-depth industry applications, stably generating millimeter-level, high-confidence surface deformation monitoring products. This will propel the province’s remote sensing applications from traditional optical methods of “clearly seeing surface morphology” to a new stage where InSAR technology can “accurately detect underground deformation, quickly respond to disaster risks, and effectively support decision-making.”
After its launch, the “Caiyun SAR01” satellite will significantly increase the observation coverage density in Yunnan and surrounding low-latitude regions, achieving full coverage of the entire province and daily revisits to key areas. This will provide a sufficient high-quality data foundation for InSAR time-series deformation monitoring, greatly improving monitoring accuracy and continuity, and precisely matching Yunnan’s urgent needs for disaster prevention and mitigation. Once operational, the satellite will provide strong technical support for timely understanding of surface deformation dynamics and accurate geological disaster prevention work, effectively safeguarding the lives and property of the people of the province.
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