China launches new meteorological satellite
China today launched a new meteorological satellite equipped with 11 remote sensing payloads into a planned orbit.
The satellite, Fengyun-3E (F-3E), was launched by a Long March-4C rocket at 7.28 a.m. (Beijing time) from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
According to China’s National Space Administration, this is the 377th flight mission of the Long March rocket series.
It took eight years to design the F3E, the world’s first meteorological satellite in early morning orbit for the civil service. It will mainly obtain atmospheric temperature, humidity and other meteorological parameters for numerical prediction applications, thereby improving China’s weather forecasting capability.
It will also monitor global ice and snow coverage, sea surface temperatures, natural disasters and ecology to better respond to climate change and prevent and reduce meteorological disasters.
In addition, the satellite will monitor the solar and space environments and their effects as well as ionospheric data to meet the needs of space weather forecasting and ancillary services.
The satellite and rocket have been developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology.
It operates under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
