The first 'Experiment Satellite', with a mass of 204 kg, was China's first transmission-type small satellite capable of stereo mapping. It was jointly designed by the Harbin Polytechnic University, Chinese Research Institute of Space Technology, Changchun Photomechanical Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Xian Surveys and Designs Institute. It seems to have been derived from the Tansuo-1 (Exploration-1) high-resolution imaging microsatellite, developed by the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) and announced in early June 2000. This satellite was to have been launched in 2001, but never appeared. Tansuo-1 was a 150-kg microsatellite with a 10-meter stereo resolution camera. It was developed in collaboration with the European Astrium Corporation.

The satellite was, officially, mainly to be used to carry out a photographic survey of China's land resources, monitor its geographical environment and conduct scientific mapping research. It was to be handed over to the Satellite Remote-Sensing Ground Station of CAS following the on-orbit testing.

Mass: 204 kg (449 lb).

• 2004 April 18 - Tansuo 1 - Launch Site: Xichang. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: CZ. Mass: 204 kg (449 lb). Perigee: 598 km (371 mi). Apogee: 616 km (382 mi). Inclination: 97.70 deg. Period: 96.80 min.
  China's first transmission-type small satellite capable of stereo mapping. It was jointly designed by the Harbin Polytechnic University, Chinese Research Institute of Space Technology, Changchun Photomechanical Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)and Xi'an Surveys and Designs Institute. The experiment satellite carried out photographic surveys of China's land resources, monitored the geographical environment and conducted scientific research on mapping. It was handed over for use to the Satellite Remote-Sensing Ground Station of CAS following the on-orbit testing.