China Moves Towards New Generation Metsats

DRAGON SPACE

FY-1C observes a major sandstorm developing over Inner Mongolia in early April. See previous report

by Wei Long
Beijing - June 11, 2001
China has begun development of a new generation of meteorological satellites to replace China's existing fleet of weather birds over the next decade with funding of 1 billion renminbi ($121 million) over the next ten years to build 10 new satellites approved to date.

At a news conference held on Dec. 31, 2000 the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST, formerly known as the Shanghai Bureau of Astronautics) said that it had officially begun development work on the new generation sunsynchronous polar orbit Fengyun-3 metsat (FY-3, Fengyun means "Wind and Cloud"), which would succeed FY-1.

SAST officials said that the experimental FY-3A would be targeted for launch in late 2004 or early 2005. The 2,200-kg, three-axis stabilized satellite will orbit at an altitude of 890 km. The design lifetime of FY-3A will be two years.

In an interview published in the newspaper China Daily on Feb. 3 this year, SAST's chief satellite designer Meng Zhizhong said: "A framework for the satellite is already established, the equipment to monitor weather changes is ready and a model of the satellite has been made."

Among the nine payload experiments on board FY-3A will be an advanced Multichannel Visible and Infrared Scan Radiometer (MVISR) with a resolution of 250 m, which is better than the imaging resolution of the current American polar-orbiting satellite NOAA-15.

Meteorologists will use FY-3A data in:

Global sounding of three-dimensional atmospheric thermal and moisture structures, and cloud and precipitation parameters in order to support global numerical weather forecast.

Global imaging to monitor large-scale meteorological and hydrological disasters, and biosphere and environment anomalies.

Deriving important geophysical parameters to support research on global and regional climate change.

SAST did not mention when it would start developing the next generation geostationary metsat FY-4, which would replace the current FY-2 satellites. But Meng said, "Feasibility studies on the design and launch of the Fengyun 4 meteorological satellite have begun." The experimental FY-4 would have a design life expectancy of three years, an extra year longer than FY-3.

According to the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), FY-4 will be a three-axis stabilized satellite as opposed to the spin-stabilized satellites of the FY-2 series. Like its sister craft FY-3, FY-4 will carry multiple payloads on board.

Before the eventual migration to the FY-4 series of geostationary metsats at the end the decade, China plans to launch three more improved FY-2 satellites: FY-2C, D and E. The three improved FY-2 metsats will continue to acquire visible, infrared and water vapor cloud images and monitor space environment conditions.

But the major improvements of the remaining FY-2 metsats will be adding two spectral channels to the Visible and Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer (VISSR) from the current three to five, and increasing power supply to the satellite.

The enhanced current and next generation metsats is part of China's on-going effort to modernize its meteorological services. A CMA timeline, which is filed with the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS) of the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO), suggests:

Replacement of the polar-orbiting sunsynchronous FY-1C, which is operating just beyond its design life, with FY-1D in May 2001. This launch has yet to take place.
Launch of next generation sunsynchronous metsats in two phases. In phase 1 experimental FY-3A would be launched in late 2004 or early 2005 and FY-3B in 2006. In phase 2 operational FY-3C would be launched in 2008 and FY-3D in 2010.
Replacement of the experimental geostationary FY-2B, which went into full-time service on the last day of 2000, with the operational FY-2C in 2003. Launch of subsequent replacements FY-2D would be in 2006 and FY-2E in 2009.
Launch of the next generation experimental geostationary metsat FY-4 in 2010.

Related Links
SpaceDaily
Search SpaceDaily
Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express

DRAGON SPACE

Fengyun 1-C Stars In Environmental Monitoring As Sandstorms Rage

Beijing - May 28, 2001
Chinese scientists rave about their star meteorological satellite Fengyun 1-C (FY-1C, Fengyun means "Wind and Cloud") which plays a key role in monitoring the changing environment, the Chinese-language weekly aerospace publication China Space News reports in the May 18 edition.

Taiwan, US Sign Accord on Weather Satellites

Taipei (AFP) May 03, 2001
Taiwan and the United States on Thursday signed a joint venture agreement to produce and launch six micro satellites for weather forecasting.

Chinese Weather Sat Exceeds Design Life

Beijing - May 20, 2001
For the first time in the Chinese meteorological satellite program, a metsat functions beyond its design life expectancy. The official Xinhua News Agency reported the milestone that Fengyun 1-C reached on May 10.

China To Develop Civil Satellite Technology Base

Shanghai - (Interfax) April 24, 2001
China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced that it will develop new generation satellites for civil spaceflight during the 10th Five-year Plan period (2001-2005). The gross investment in the program will greatly exceed the investment in civil spaceflight during the 9th Five-year Plan period (1996-2000), said Guo Baozhu, deputy director of CNSA.