Wuxi satellite firms provide emergency imaging for Xizang disaster zone

Minospace Technology in Wuxi. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]

Two commercial satellite companies in Wuxi have deployed orbital assets to support disaster response efforts in Gyirong county, Xizang autonomous region, following a catastrophic mudslide that struck on Aug 26 from the Nepalese side of the border.

Minospace Technology activated its emergency observation protocol immediately after the disaster. The company tasked five satellites from the "Dongpo" constellation to conduct around-the-clock high-precision imaging of the affected area.

Operating with both optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors, the satellites used their radar capability to penetrate the plateau's persistent cloud cover, capturing precise images of terrain changes even as optical views were obstructed. By comparing pre- and post-disaster remote sensing data, the company helped authorities assess the extent of the destruction and support on-the-ground rescue coordination.

On Aug 27, Minospace delivered all post-disaster remote sensing imagery and analytical data to national emergency management authorities, providing critical spatial intelligence for damage assessment, resource allocation, and secondary disaster prevention.

Separately, Spacety mobilized its "Dianjian-1" SAR satellite in coordination with partners including Chengdu Engineering Corp and China University of Geosciences (Wuhan).

The satellite successfully captured the first radar remote sensing images of the area following the mudslide. While the region's complex terrain along the southern foothills of the Himalayas limited visibility of detailed port building structures, key features, including changes in river courses, the extent of mudslide scouring and road conditions, remained identifiable, providing reliable baseline data for damage assessment.

Preliminary analysis comparing pre- and post-disaster imagery suggests the mudslide may have originated in a high-altitude glacial area east of the port, on the Nepalese side of the border.