20 January 2022
China's high-resolution multi-mode imaging satellite Gaofen Duomo (Multi-Mode) has been officially put into use. The civil optical remote-sensing satellite provides data with a resolution at the sub-meter level for the use in industries including surveying and mapping, natural resources, emergency management, agriculture, ecological environment, residential construction and forestry. The satellite was launched on 3 July 2020 from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in north China's Shanxi Province. The summary review of its in-orbit test was completed on 17 December 2021. The test results show that the satellite is in good condition, works well, and has the conditions for putting into use, said the CNSA. This is China's first civil space research project adopting the public-private partnership model. The government is responsible for the development, data reception and processing of satellite images.
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21 January 2022
The container with the parts of the 2nd CZ-8 launcher left Tianjin one week ago by ship and arrived at Qinglan port on Hainan island. From there, the hardware was transported to Wenchang Space Launch Centre in the morning of 21 January. The rocket will be reassembled at the centre and undergo final tests before taking off in late February or early March. The CZ-8 is the youngest member of the Long March rocket family and can launch from land or sea. It conducted its 1st flight in December 2020 from Wenchang. Its main task is to place satellites into SSO to serve the increasing demand from commercial satellite companies. The CZ-8 could also launch from Jiuquan.
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21 January 2022
The Federal Register, a daily journal of US federal government activity, published a document showing that the US government decided to impose sanctions on 3 Chinese companies on 21 January local time. The sanctions apply to CASC - China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. First Academy; CASIC - China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp. Fourth Academy; and Poly Technologies Inc. (PolyTech - PTI) and their subsidiaries.
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Link to the original, full comment by the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian on 21 January (answer to 6th question (by China News Service))

24 January 2022
This week, Jean Deville and Blaine Curcio are trying to find an answer to the question: "Will 2022 be the year of massive Chinese smallsat deployment?" Another part of the discussion is dedicated to the new variant of the Long March 8 rocket - the CZ-8A. More news can be found in their weekly newsletter.
And if you like to support Jean and Blaine, maybe you would like to buy them a coffee?
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