A CZ-2C Chang Zheng-2C/SMA rocket body that was launched on the 6th September, 2008, from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre, China, for the HJ-1A Huan Jing-1A and HJ-1B Huan Jing-1B satellite mission is predicted to re-enter the Earths atmosphere on the 9th January, 2010. TLE Data
Although there is no word of any official problems with the launch - NORAD is tracking a lot of debris from this launch. This may indicate that something, possibly one satellite, has broken up.
China has successfully launched the HJ-1 and HJ-1C satellites atop a Long March 2C rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in Shanxi Province at 11:25 a.m local time, 6th September, 2008. The two satellites will be used to monitor the environment and natural disasters. The onboard imaging systems and infrared cameras will provide a global scan every two days. The satellites will work as a constellation with seven other satellites yet to be launched. The satellites have a three year lifespan and will be run by the State Environmental Protection Administration and the National Committee for Disaster Reduction.
China will launch the first of eight satellites to monitor environment and natural disasters from the country's north Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre this week. The satellite "Environment 1", an optical satellite, will be sent into orbit by a Long March 2C carrier. It will monitor most of the country and send back data daily, making up for the country's earth observation data shortage.
"Launch of the satellite will largely enhance our environment monitoring ability" - Wu Xiaoqing, vice minister of Environmental Protection.
The satellite will work as a constellation with seven other satellites yet to be launched. Its observational footprint is 720 km. It is expected to forecast and monitor natural disasters such as flooding, drought, typhoon, landslide and earthquake.
China’s future HJ-1 and HJ-1C reconnaissance satellites are to be launched in the second half of 2007.
The satellite will provide information on environmental changes and natural disasters. China’s Environmental and Disaster Monitoring Satellite System (EDMSS) will provide all-weather (3 to 100m meter) imagery, and be composed of three small satellites; "Environment-1" consists of two small optical satellites, the "HJ-1A" and the "HJ-1B", and a radar satellite, the "HJ-1C". The satellites will be run by the State Environmental Protection Administration and the National Committee for Disaster Reduction.