Chongqing - The China Meteorological Administration recently granted business approval for satellite data products developed by Aerospace Tianmu (Chongqing) Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. under the Tianmu-1 Constellation.

Notably, its atmospheric occultation profile data has been integrated into China’s GRAPES numerical weather prediction model, marking Tianmu-1 as the country’s first and only commercial satellite constellation that meets the precision and timeliness requirements for numerical forecasting.

The Tianmu-1 Constellation utilizes BeiDou/GNSS remote sensing technology and can receive signals from four major navigation systems: BeiDou, GPS, GALILEO, and GLONASS. 

It produces data products such as atmospheric temperature, humidity, pressure profiles, soil moisture, sea surface wind speed, sea ice coverage and thickness, and orbital atmospheric density, providing over 30,000 atmospheric profile data points daily.

The "Tianmu-1" meteorological satellite constellation has achieved in-orbit network operation. (Photo/Aerospace Tianmu (Chongqing) Satellite Technology Co., Ltd.)

Currently, the constellation consists of 23 satellites in orbit with a 100% launch success rate, and it has nearly completed the network construction for the sun-synchronous orbit business sub-constellation.

It is the first domestic occultation detection constellation compatible with all four major global navigation systems. It is the first commercial constellation worldwide to achieve integrated “ocean reflection, atmospheric occultation and ionospheric occultation” detection.

The Tianmu-1 Constellation is characterized by high precision, high vertical resolution, and no calibration requirements. It offers comprehensive, all-weather, three-dimensional detection capabilities for global oceans, the atmosphere, and the ionosphere, enabling full-scale global atmospheric environmental data acquisition. 

This will significantly enhance China’s ability to independently acquire global meteorological data and drive innovation in meteorological science and technology, which will serve high-precision weather forecasting, maritime navigation, aviation meteorological services, smart agriculture, and renewable energy meteorology.