FENGYUN-3F meteorological satellite successfully lifted off: China Meteorological Administration
At 11:47 a.m. on August 3, FENGYUN-3F (hereafter referred to as FY-3F) was lifted off in Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. As the new member of “morning satellite” family among FY meteorological satellites, FY-3F will undertake the in-orbit operation of FY-3C, and reinforce atmospheric component quantitative sounding and climate change monitoring and serving weather forecasting, atmospheric chemistry and climate change monitoring operation and research on the basis of ensuring near-earth orbit global imaging observation and vertical atmospheric sounding operation.
At present, China is the only country in the world which possesses 4 near-earth orbit meteorological satellites in early morning orbit, morning orbit, afternoon orbit and non-sunsynchronous orbit.
FY-3F is equipped with 10 effective payloads, featuring 2 newly developed payloads of OMS-nadir Ozone Monitoring Suite - nadir scanning unit and OMS-limb Ozone Monitoring Suite - limb scanning unit. There are also 3 improved versions of payloads and 5 inherited payloads.
OMS-nadir Ozone Monitoring Suite - nadir scanning unit is mainly applied in the imaging sounding of key factors like ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, aerosols
OMS-limb Ozone Monitoring Suite - limb scanning unit can observe the atmospheric scattering of ultraviolet and visible light, reverse atmospheric ozone vertical profile, and its data will mainly be harnessed in climate change, atmospheric chemistry, and atmospheric environment research.
Dr. CHEN Zhenlin, Administrator of China Meteorological Administration (CMA), congratulated the successful launch of FY-3F and paid tribute to the hard work of meteorological and space science and technology practitioners. He pointed out that FY series meteorological satellites have become earth observation satellites representing China with a wide international reputation. Its launch will further ramp up the timeliness and accuracy of weather forecasting and make greater contributions to disaster preparedness.
Dr. CAO Xiaozhong, chief commander of FY meteorological satellite project of CMA, and Deputy Administrator of CMA remarked in an interview at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre that the observation data and products of FY-3F will be widely used in important fields such as weather forecasting, climate prediction, disaster monitoring and environmental monitoring. FY-3F will carry out networking observation with FY-3D, FY-3E and FY-3G, and continue to play a role.
After entering into operation, FY-3F will generate 48 kinds of products in 6 categories, including image, cloud radiation, sea and land surface, atmospheric parameter, atmospheric classification, and space weather, which encompass new type remote sensing products such as soil freezing and thawing, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, total ozone and profile, total aerosol total and index.
In the next stage, FY-3F will conduct in-orbit testing, and give play to its application benefits in areas such as disaster preparedness, safeguarding ecological civilization construction, and serving the international community as soon as possible.
So far, China has 9 FY meteorological satellites in orbit, continuously providing data products and services to 129 countries and regions around the world.
Editor: Liu Shuqiao
