China on Monday launched a methane monitoring commercial satellite, the first one of its kind developed by the country, to track methane emissions worldwide.
Aboard by a Lijian-1 Y5 commercial carrier rocket together with 14 other satellites, the Xiguang-004 satellite was launched at 12:03 (Beijing Time) and has entered the planned orbit.
Carrying multiple payloads, including a methane concentration detector and an imaging camera, the satellite is capable of identifying sources of methane emissions in coal mines, landfills, and oil and gas fields.
"We focus on the specific point-source of methane emissions, such as a specific mining area, an industrial zone, or a section of the pipelines. The application scenario serves as a supplement to China's carbon monitoring satellites providing detailed perspectives on emissions," said Qin Xiaobao, deputy head of the data application department of the satellite's developer Xiopm Space.
Scientists say that in the process of global warming, the intensity of warming caused by methane is much higher than that of carbon dioxide. In a 20-year time scale, the intensity of warming caused by methane is 84 times that of carbon dioxide.
Xiguang-004 is also the world's first monitoring satellite specifically designed to focus on methane gas.
It can conduct high-frequency, high-precision observations of point-source methane leaks and emissions globally, providing technical support for the establishment of a comprehensive methane emission monitoring system.
"Our satellite is specifically designed to focus on methane gas emissions, setting the goals and direction for global methane monitoring. This initiative aligns with the needs of our nation [of achieving zero-carbon emissions] and addresses critical objectives related to global environmental change," said Li Zhizhong, academician from the International Academy of Astronautics.
China launches methane monitoring commercial satellite
Shanghai's Pudong New Area issued on Friday a three-year action plan for promoting high-quality development of trade in services, setting ambitious goals for growth in the volume of trade in services and the amount of digital trade.
The plan, covering the period from 2026 to 2028, sets clear targets that by 2028 the total volume of trade in services in Pudong will exceed 140 billion U.S. dollars, with digital trade surpassing 70 billion U.S. dollars.
Last year, the Pudong New Area's total import and export volume of trade in services reached 121.02 billion U.S. dollars, up 4.4 percent year on year, accounting for more than half of Shanghai's total.
In recent years, leveraging its strengths in technological innovation and artificial intelligence (AI), the Pudong New Area has kept promoting integrated development of AI and trade in services, including healthcare services, to expand new frontiers for the sector.
"We aim to explore overseas markets for high-end medical devices featuring embodied AI rehabilitation robots. We are also trying to extend our core capabilities in rehabilitation into new areas such as elderly care services," said Shi Hui, vice president of an intelligent technology company.
In 2025, Pudong was home to more than 1,000 AI enterprises, with the industry's total output reaching 198.2 billion yuan (29 billion U.S. dollars), a year-on-year increase of 11 percent. The area also had over 100 key enterprises specializing in embodied AI, forming a full-industry-chain layout.
In addition, intelligent technologies have also been applied in maritime services to streamline logistics and improve efficiency.
"In the area of trade in services, we have adopted intelligent technologies to accelerate the flow of goods and facilitate smoother logistics. We are also promoting 'maritime data plus' initiatives, using our maritime supervision data to empower financial institutions and insurance companies. By building a large evaluation model, we aim to support faster financing and insurance services for the shipping industry, ultimately contributing to healthy development of the entire sector," said Xie Xin, director of the hazardous materials management and pollution prevention center of the Maritime Affairs Bureau of the Pudong New Area.
Shanghai Pudong New Area unveils three-year action plan to boost trade in services
