Latest news with #HubeiDaily
The Star
16-05-2025
- Science
- The Star
China's bullet-shape satellite test paves the way for very low orbit surveillance network
China has completed key technology checks for an experimental satellite in very low Earth orbit (VLEO), marking an initial step towards building a 300-satellite constellation for high-resolution remote sensing and communications, according to local media. Chutian-001, which was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre a year ago, showed core capabilities – including satellite system performance, high-resolution smart imaging and space environment monitoring – Hubei Daily reported. The outlet said the tests showed major progress in key areas, such as precise satellite control in very low orbits, real-time target detection using domestically developed technologies and multi-sensor monitoring of the near-Earth environment. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. The report did not disclose the satellite's altitude or specifications such as mass or size. However, images from last year's Zhuhai air show revealed the satellite's streamlined, bullet-shaped body designed to reduce atmospheric drag, a key challenge for spacecraft operating below 300km (186 miles) where air resistance is much greater. VLEO satellites typically circle the Earth at altitudes between 150km and 300km, offering advantages such as lower signal latency, stronger transmission, reduced power needs and potentially lower launch costs. However, they must regularly fire on-board thrusters to counter atmospheric drag, which shortens their lifespan and demands more frequent replacement. As part of China's broader effort to grow its commercial space sector, the Chutian constellation project was launched in July 2023 by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp (CASIC) in partnership with the Hubei provincial government. The constellation will be deployed in three phases. During the initial technology and service verification stage, one experimental satellite was scheduled for launch last year to test operations in very low orbit. Over 2024-25, a cluster of nine satellites will follow to show real-time Earth observation capabilities. The second phase from 2026 to 2030 will focus on large-scale deployment. It aims to establish a 300-satellite network offering continuous global coverage with a range of imaging types – visible light, synthetic aperture radar, hyperspectral, and infrared – and response times as short as 15 minutes. After 2030, the project will enter an integration and expansion phase, completing the full business system and pushing global response times to under 10 minutes. According to Zhang Chuan, project leader at CASIC, the Chutian constellation will support a wide range of applications, from disaster response and watershed management to agriculture, forestry and fisheries. The system is designed for high revisit rates, fast data processing, intelligent analysis and near-instant downlink capabilities. 'For disaster response and unexpected emergencies, the constellation will eventually support mission dispatch within minutes and transmit live updates from affected areas in real time,' he told China News Service in April 2024. Zhang said the constellation would also benefit the public who in future might use smart devices to access satellite-based services, such as navigation support for autonomous driving, alerts about hazardous road conditions and the real-time monitoring of crowd density, enabled by intelligent cloud detection and change analysis. More from South China Morning Post: For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2025.
South China Morning Post
06-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Driver arrested in eastern China after bus stop crowd hit during May Day holiday
Police in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong have arrested a driver after a car ploughed into a crowd of people at a bus stop on Sunday afternoon. Advertisement Questions remain about the number of casualties and whether it was a deliberate 'lone wolf' attack. Authorities in the city of Tengzhou confirmed the crash on Monday afternoon, adding that the driver had been detained, according to Jimu News, an online media outlet affiliated with Hubei Daily, an official newspaper in central China. It was the first Chinese news report of the incident, more than a day after a video of the crash was widely circulated on social media. Local authorities have not issued an official statement and further details have not been released. Hu Xijin, former editor-in-chief of Global Times, a nationalist tabloid affiliated with Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily, criticised the Tengzhou authorities on Monday night for 'failing to release any official information on the incident'. Advertisement 'I hope all local authorities understand and trust the resilience of our society, and do not set a precedent of not releasing information to the public when such incidents occur,' Hu wrote in a social media post.
CNA
05-05-2025
- CNA
Stranded Chinese tourists turn to officials' homes as hotels run out during May Day holiday rush
SINGAPORE: With record tourist numbers during China's annual May Day holiday, one county's hospitality has gone viral. Tourism officials and residents in Xuanen, a county in the central Hubei province, reportedly opened up their homes to stranded travellers - drawing praise and also questions from netizens online, who described the move as 'absurd and awkward'. Xuanen's tourism bureau shared videos and accounts on May 3 of staff and local residents opening their homes to travellers, who were unable to find accommodation during the busy holiday period. The five-day national holiday from May 1 to May 5 saw a huge surge in domestic tourism. Hubei is known for its natural and historical landmarks like the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River and the Wudang Mountains - a site renowned for tai chi and considered a place of religious pilgrimage. In particular, Xuanen welcomed nearly 702,000 visitors between May 1 and 3, marking an 85.7 per cent increase from the same period last year, officials said. Around 30 stranded tourists reportedly stayed in residents' and officials' homes, according to a report by Hubei Daily. Among them was a female traveller named Wang, who drove four hours with her family from their home in Yichang to Xuanen on a spontaneous road trip - without booking accommodation in advance. As it turned out, the family of four were unable to find a room for the night, as many hotels and local homestays were fully booked. Wang told Hubei Daily that she eventually called tourism authorities for assistance. In a video posted on the county tourism bureau's WeChat account, Wang said tourism officials had 'spent a long time' helping them source for hotel rooms or other accommodation in Xuanen. That night, the family was offered free accommodation - not at a hotel, but in the home of the tourism bureau director, Wang Jufang. Unsurprisingly, the family was full of praise for the 'heartwarming service' they received from local tourism officials. Another tourism bureau official named Guo Yanrui was also praised for offering spare rooms in his home to four tourists from Sichuan province. Tourism bureau director Wang said county residents also offered their homes as temporary accommodation for tourists. More than 30 travellers were accommodated in local residences during the May Day holiday period, while 100 emergency beds - equipped with daily necessities - were set up in the county's national gymnasium, Wang added. Wang did not meet the family during their visit as she was working at the time. She even went the extra mile by travelling back to her hometown for the night so the family could have privacy. 'We also believe in the concept of 'guests coming first',' Wang said. 'The goodwill of residents has shown tourists the warmth of Xuanen county and how they have been treated like family while they were here.' In another case, a tourist named Huang Yong was offered a room in a local resident's home. Huang had initially called a local homestay but was told there were no vacancies. However, the homestay owner helped by contacting other homestays to check for available rooms. 'Xuanen is a place full of warmth and the human touch,' Huang said. 'I really want to thank those who have offered their help.' ONLINE DEBATE Online, many praised 'heartwarming' efforts by Hubei officials to shelter tourists in need. But others raised eyebrows, with some Chinese netizens criticising the travellers for poor planning and taking up local resources. One user, commenting on a post by Shanghai based news site The Paper, said local officials should not be obliged to offer their homes as emergency accommodation. 'Homes are private spaces. Why should they be open to tourists?' 'If you travel during the May Day holidays without booking a room in advance, you should suffer your own consequences.'
South China Morning Post
03-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
1 killed and 4 injured after tourist helicopter crashes in Chinese city of Suzhou
A sightseeing helicopter crashed in a newly opened scenic area in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou, killing one person on the ground and injuring four on board. Advertisement Friday afternoon's accident happened as the helicopter was coming into land and dropped from a height of about 10 metres (33ft), according to the local emergency services. Officials said the four injured passengers had been taken to hospital and that none was in a critical condition. The person killed was identified as a bystander on the ground, but no further details have been released. The helicopter had been flying over a newly constructed park in the city in Jiangsu, which is one of China's most popular destinations. The park – the Austin Blossom Scenic Area – only opened last week after a three-year construction process. It covers around 20 hectares (50 acres), making it eastern China's largest wisteria rose garden. Advertisement A member of staff at the park, which has been closed until further notice, said the helicopter belonged to a third-party company offering aerial tours, according to a report by Jimu news, an affiliate of the official Hubei Daily.
