Chinese and UK companies have agreed a deal that will result in three high-resolution Earth observation spacecraft being built to map China’s extraordinary growth from orbit.
The deal was penned between Guildford satellite imagery provider DMCii and Beijing-based company 21AT.
It means DMCii can now roll out its new constellation of spacecraft that will picture details on the surface of the planet less than a metre wide.
They should be ready to launch in 2014.
For 21AT (Twenty First Century Aerospace Technology Company Ltd), it means it can have ready access to Earth imagery without the worry of having to launch and operate satellites in orbit.
The Chinese company will take 100% of the capacity of the three spacecraft over an initial contract period of seven years. Day-to-day use of the data will be handled by 21AT subsidiary, BLMIT.
It will use the pictures to monitor land use and land-cover changes. In particular, the data will enable regional governments to plan better the extraordinary rate of development in China’s cities.
The satellites for the DMC-3 constellation, as it is called, will be manufactured by DMCii’s parent company, Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL). It will cost some £110m to build, launch and insure these platforms.
Approval for the deal has come from the highest levels in government in both London and Beijing, and the satellite data package was actually part of the £1.4bn of trade agreements signed between premiers David Cameron and Wen Jiabao during their summit on Monday.
Read More: BBC News
China and UK strike space deal: