TEE-01B Satellite (China)

Full Specifications

TEE-01B Earth Observation Satellite (China)

The TEE-01B, also known as Earth Eye 1 or Diqiu Zhiyan-1, represents a commercial Earth observation satellite developed in China that has drawn significant attention for its potential dual-use role in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). Launched on June 6, 2024, aboard a Galactic Energy Ceres-1 rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, the satellite operates in a sun-synchronous low Earth orbit. It provides high-resolution panchromatic and multispectral imagery suitable for civilian mapping and resource monitoring, while reports indicate its imagery has supported military targeting activities. For U.S. defense analysts, the TEE-01B highlights the rapid growth of China’s commercial space sector and the blurring lines between civil and military satellite capabilities.

Manufacturer

Mumei Xingkong Keji (also referred to as Earth Eye Co. or TEE Sat), a Chinese commercial space company, developed and operates the TEE-01B. The satellite was launched under an “in-orbit delivery” model, allowing transfer of control to international customers post-launch.

Performance & Capabilities

Operating at approximately 530–545 km altitude in a sun-synchronous orbit (inclination ~97.5–97.8°), the TEE-01B delivers panchromatic resolution better than 0.52–0.53 meters and multispectral resolution around 2.1 meters, with a swath width exceeding 14.8 km at nadir. This enables detailed imaging of ground features, infrastructure, and vehicles. Revisit times depend on orbital phasing but support frequent coverage of specific regions in LEO. The satellite carries an optical remote sensing camera capable of day/night operations through multispectral imaging. Mission life is estimated in the range of several years typical for small-to-medium Earth observation platforms.

Cost/Price

Exact unit cost remains undisclosed due to its commercial and sensitive nature, but similar Chinese high-resolution imaging satellites are estimated in the tens to low hundreds of millions USD range, significantly lower than Western counterparts like the KH-11 series. The “in-orbit delivery” approach reduces customer launch and integration expenses.

The TEE-01B exemplifies China’s expanding role in affordable, high-resolution remote sensing. While marketed for applications such as land resource monitoring, mineral exploration, smart city planning, forestry surveys, and disaster response, recent reporting links it to operational military use by non-Chinese actors for tracking fixed sites and assessing strike effects. Its capabilities align with broader trends in proliferated commercial ISR that challenge traditional U.S. space dominance in reconnaissance.