On October 27 at 06:19 UTC, a Chinese Kuaizhou 1A launched the Jilin-1 Gaofen 02F commercial imaging satellite into sun-synchronous orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China. 

Jilin-1 Gaofen 02F is a high-resolution, optical imaging satellite sensitive to visible and near-infrared wavelengths.  It is capable of 75-centimeter ground resolution in panchromatic mode, with a better than 40-kilometer image width. At this resolution, the satellite can capture clear images of things like roads, driveways and cars.

The Kuaizhou 1A is a four-stage launch vehicle developed from the two-stage solid DF-21 road-mobile medium range ballistic missile first deployed in 1991, with one additional solid stage and a liquid propellant fourth stage to turn it into a space launch vehicle capable of putting 400 kilograms into orbit. Like the ballistic missile it is derived from, the rocket is launched from the back of a transporter truck parked and set up on a concrete pad.

Jilin-1 Gaofen 02F replaces Jilin-1 Gaofen 02C which was lost in a failed Kuaizhou 1A launch last year.

More Information

CCTV News 

Jilin-1 info page (Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd) (Chinese)

Kuaizhou-1A info page (Gunter’s Space Page)