BEIJING — China's newly-launched ocean observation satellite has sent back its first batch of remote sensing images, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The HY-1D satellite and its payloads, which include an ocean color and temperature scanner and calibration spectrometer, have started normal operations.

The National Satellite Ocean Application Service's three ground stations in Hainan province, Beijing and Heilongjiang province, successfully received the remote sensing data from the satellite on June 14. 

The data reception at the ground station has met the design requirements, and the processed, remote sensing images can reflect data on oceans, coastal areas and lakes.

The HY-1D satellite was launched into space on June 11. It is China's fourth remote-sensing satellite for ocean observation.