Beijing Normal University and satellite launch service provider China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) signed a cooperation agreement and released a plan to develop a polar observation microsatellite called BNU-1, Science and Technology Daily reported on Feb. 12.

The microsatellite BNU-1 will be the first small satellite developed by a Chinese university by using remote sensing to study the polar climate and for environmental monitoring. It is scheduled to be launched in mid-December.

Weighing 20 kilograms, the BNU-1 can monitor the solar regions once in every two days and capture high-quality multispectral imagery. It can also provide reliable data service for vessels navigating icy solar regions.

The satellite is expected to enhance the country’s observation and data collection of the solar regions, which many domestic satellites are currently unable to do. The microsatellite is also expected to monitor the middle and lower latitude areas.