Science
A new meteorological satellite has been launched by China.
On Thursday morning, China launched a new meteorological satellite into orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province.
The satellite, Fengyun-4B (FY-4B), was launched at 12:17 a.m. by a Long March-3B rocket (Beijing Time). According to the launch center, it was the 372nd flying mission of the Long March rocket series.
The FY-4B will be utilized for weather study and forecasting, as well as environmental and disaster monitoring, as the first of China's new-generation meteorological satellites to reach geostationary orbit.
The Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology and the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology created the satellite and rocket, respectively.The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation owns both of them.
The China Meteorological Administration is in charge of the satellite's ground application system's design and operation.
To deliver more precise and speedier meteorological data, the FY-4B will build a network with the FY-4A, which was launched into orbit in December 2016.
The FY-4B has a seven-year longer lifetime than its predecessor and enhanced observational capabilities. It has the potential to improve the network efficiency of picture generation while also reducing the update time.
"The new satellite will help forecasters observe the dynamics of severe weather more flexibly, making it easier to identify and capture strong convective weather such as short-time heavy rainfall and thunderstorms," said Zhang Zhiqing, deputy chief designer of the Fengyun satellite project.
China began receiving, analyzing, and utilising foreign meteorological satellite data as early as 1969. In addition, the government has been working on its own meteorological satellite system.
China's meteorological services have come a long way in the last 50 years. The government has launched 18 Fengyun satellites to date, with eight already in orbit and more set to launch in the next five years.
According to Zhuang Guotai, chief of the China Meteorological Administration, China has delivered Fengyun satellite data and products to 118 nations and territories.
