Chinanews, Shanghai, Jan. 29 – China plans to launch Fengyun 3 meteorological satellite, a new generation of the polar orbiting meteorological satellite, in autumn this year. When orbiting in space, the satellite will collect quantitative weather and environment data on a 24-hour basis and in every corner of the world. It will carry out multiple tasks, including weather forecast, environment monitoring and disaster relief, according to information from the Shanghai Astronautics Bureau.

 

Fengyun 3 is designed by China as the second generation of meteorological satellite moving in sun-synchronous orbit. It weighs 2.4 tons, or three times the weight of Fengyun 1. The satellite is equipped with 11 devices, including an infrared spectrometer, a moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS), and an infrared scan radiometer.

 

Gao Huoshan, chief designer of Fengyun 3, said that most of the 11 exploring equipment installed on the satellite were designed and made by China for the first time. With this equipment, the satellite can monitor weather changes more accurately. Take the optical remote sensor placed on Fengyun 3 for example, its highest ground resolution can reach 250 meters on earth, or four times more than Fengyun 1.

 

When launched into space, Fengyun 3 will orbit around the earth once in every 102 minutes. The large storage device placed on the satellite will collect and store a huge amount of data on environment and weather changes and when it orbits over the territory of China, it will send these data to the ground. It can store data 73 times as many as those of Fengyun 1. In addition, Fengyun 3 can adjust its orbiting track if necessary.

 

When launched into space, Fengyun 3 will replace Fengyun-1D meteorological satellite to provide weather services to China together with Fengyun-2D.