A new microsatellite developed by Zhejiang ISCO Data is made ready for shipping in Taizhou. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

A new microsatellite developed by Zhejiang ISCO Data was transported on July 2 from the Taizhou Bay New Area in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province, to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China.

Scheduled to enter orbit on July 15, the satellite will circle the Earth 15 times daily, delivering high-resolution images from space.

As the third satellite in the Kunpeng constellation, the unit features a compact, palm-sized onboard computer — currently the smallest and lightest core equipment used in commercial satellites.

Despite its compact size, the satellite carries a high-performance imaging system that integrates both panchromatic and eight-band multispectral sensors, enabling it to capture fine ground details from an altitude of 500 kilometers. With an image swath width of 20 km — the width of the area on the Earth's surface that a satellite sensor can capture in a single pass — the data it transmits will support areas such as natural resource monitoring, agriculture, and marine management.

Since launching its first satellite in 2023, ISCO Data has accelerated the development of the Kunpeng constellation, aiming to complete the 28-satellite system by the end of 2027. The satellite's key components were all developed in Taizhou, reflecting the region's growing aerospace capabilities.

The company, recognized as a high-tech enterprise in Zhejiang, has secured contracts worth over 20 million yuan ($2.79 million) this year. It also signed a new cooperation agreement with Taizhou Big Data to enhance its satellite data applications. 

The satellite project is part of Taizhou Bay's growing aerospace cluster, which is expanding from foundational projects to full-scale manufacturing.