China's first satellite dedicated to ocean salinity detection has passed all in-orbit tests, clearing the way for long-term use and marking a major breakthrough in the country's space-based marine monitoring.

Launched on Nov. 14, 2024, the satellite, also known as Ocean-4 01, is a scientific research satellite under China's national civil space infrastructure program. It is expected to play a key role in advancing marine science, environmental protection, and disaster prevention.

After entering orbit, the satellite underwent a series of rigorous verifications, including platform configuration, payload activation, ground-space link establishment, and functional validation. Results showed that all systems met or exceeded their design requirements.

The successful launch and operation of the satellite have further improved China's ocean observation satellite network and filled a major gap in space-based ocean salinity detection, representing a milestone achievement in the nation's ocean remote sensing capabilities.

In the future, the satellite will provide global, high-precision ocean salinity data to support research in marine environment protection, disaster prevention and mitigation, and global climate change, offering strong technical backing for China's endeavor to build itself into a maritime power.

At the same time, the satellite is also equipped with the capability to measure soil moisture, serving a broad range of applications such as drought monitoring, agricultural environment assessment, and numerical weather forecasting, thereby enhancing data support for multiple sectors.