Introduction / Context:
Modern countries use Earth observation and spy satellites for weather forecasting, disaster monitoring, resource mapping and strategic surveillance. Gaofen is a series of high resolution Earth observation satellites. The Gaofen 4 satellite attracted attention because it operates from geostationary orbit and provides continuous images of a large region. This question tests awareness of which country operates the Gaofen satellite series and specifically launched Gaofen 4.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The satellite mentioned is Gaofen 4.
- It is described as a geostationary observation or spy satellite.
- Options list space capable countries including Russia, India, United States, China and Japan.
- We assume familiarity with major national satellite programmes.
Concept / Approach:
The Gaofen series is part of a national high resolution Earth observation programme associated with China. The naming convention and public reports clearly link Gaofen satellites to Chinese space agency activities. Other countries have their own satellite families under different names. Therefore, recognising the Gaofen name as Chinese is the main step in solving this question.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note the name Gaofen, which is not used by Russian, Indian, American or Japanese satellite programmes.
Step 2: Recall that China launched several Gaofen satellites as part of its high resolution Earth observation project.
Step 3: Gaofen 4 is one of these satellites and operates from geostationary orbit.
Step 4: Option d, China, matches this known background.
Step 5: Russia operates satellites with different naming patterns, such as Kosmos and others.
Step 6: India uses names like INSAT, GSAT, Cartosat and so on, but not Gaofen.
Step 7: The United States and Japan also have their own naming conventions for spy and weather satellites, none of which are called Gaofen.
Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification method is to remember global trends in satellite naming. Chinese satellites often have names such as Gaofen, Beidou, Long March and Shenzhou, which appear frequently in news related to Chinese space missions. Linking Gaofen with China in memory, much like linking INSAT with India or GPS with the United States, makes identification easy. This mental association confirms that China is the country that launched Gaofen 4.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a is incorrect because Russia does not operate a Gaofen series; its reconnaissance and communication satellites have different names. Option b is wrong since India focuses on satellite series like GSAT, INSAT, Cartosat and RISAT. Option c is incorrect because American military and weather satellites use other names such as NOAA or classified designations. Option e, Japan, has satellites like Himawari for weather, but Gaofen is not a Japanese project.
Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may guess the United States or Russia whenever a powerful spy satellite is mentioned, without paying attention to the name. Others may assume that any satellite featuring in Indian exam questions must be Indian. To avoid such errors, candidates should form strong associations between specific satellite series names and their countries. Remember that Gaofen is Chinese, Cartosat and GSAT are Indian, and Himawari is Japanese, for example. This simple mapping greatly improves accuracy in space technology questions.
Final Answer:
The country that launched the geostationary observation satellite Gaofen 4 is China.
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