GF1

GF-1, commonly written as GF1, is best known as Gaofen-1, the first satellite in China’s Gaofen program of high-resolution Earth observation. Launched in 2013, GF-1 is a civilian remote-sensing satellite developed under the China High-resolution Earth Observation System (CHEOS). Its mission is to provide medium-to-high-resolution imagery to support land resources management, urban planning, agriculture, environmental monitoring, and disaster response. GF-1 operates in a sun-synchronous, near-polar low-Earth orbit, enabling regular revisits of ground targets.

The imaging payload of GF-1 includes a high-resolution panchromatic sensor and multispectral sensors, delivering data in multiple resolutions and spectral bands. Data from GF-1 is used for mapping, change detection, and various applications by government, industry, and scientific communities in China and abroad through data-sharing programs.

Development and impact: GF-1 represented a significant step in expanding domestic capabilities in high-resolution Earth observation and remote sensing within China. It served as a foundation for subsequent satellites in the Gaofen series and contributed to the broader CHEOS objectives of improving national monitoring, resource management, and environmental assessment.

Other uses: The acronym GF1 can appear in different contexts to denote other terms. In the specific domain of space and Earth observation, however, GF-1 most commonly refers to Gaofen-1. See also Gaofen program, CHEOS, and remote sensing satellites.