Design of Hainan Satellite Constellation and Applications for Ocean Observations

The one belt and one road initiative, an international tourism island construction and the sustainable development of the Hainan province in China, requires the global Earth observation information obtained via satellite remote sensing. However, the unique geographical location of the Hainan province and its cloudy and rainy climate causes several challenges for the acquisition of high-quality satellite remote sensing images. To address this issue, the proposed Hainan satellite constellation is aimed at building a remote sensing satellite system equipped with optical, hyperspectral, and radar payloads as well as a payload for ship automatic identification system, considering specific business requirements. The application will focus on ship detection and islands and marine environment observations. Once the complete operation of the Hainan satellite constellation is established, it will supply high-frequency and coverage observations in low-latitude regions, covering major portions of the maritime silk road areas. This will facilitate marine environment protection and services, and marine resources exploration. This paper introduces the design of the Hainan satellite constellation, including its architecture, characteristics and innovations, and potential applications for ocean observations.