Fengyun
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Fēngyún (Traditional Chinese: 風雲; Simplified Chinese: 风云; literally: "wind cloud"), abb. FY are China's weather satellites. China has launched polar orbit and geosynchronous orbit meteorological satellites since 1988. On January 11, 2007 China destroyed one of these satellites in a test of an anti-satellite missile.
The satellites in the FY-1 series are polar orbiting sun-synchronous orbits. The satellites in the FY-2 series are in geosynchronous orbit.
Meteorological satellites also important in oceanography, agriculture, forestry, hydrology, aviation, navigation, environmental protection and national defense. They contribute to the national economy and to preventing and mitigating disasters. The latest satellites monitor bad weather around the clock, particularly convective rainstorms, thunderstorms and hailstorms. They also monitor developing sandstorms as well as air quality and provide early warnings.
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[edit] Current and previous satellites
| Launch date | Satellites | Vehicle | Orbit | In use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988-09-07 | FY-1A | CZ-4 | SSO | No |
| 1990-09-03 | FY-1B | CZ-4 | SSO | No |
| 1997-06-10 | FY-2A | CZ-3 | GEO 105°E | No |
| 1999-05-10 | FY-1C | CZ-4 | SSO | destroyed in 2007 [1] |
| 2000-06-25 | FY-2B | CZ-3 | GEO 105°E | No |
| 2002-05-15 | FY-1D | CZ-4B | SSO | Yes |
| 2004-10-19 | FY-2C | CZ-3A | GEO 105°E | Yes |
| 2006-12-08 | FY-2D | CZ-3A | GEO 86.5°E | Yes |
| 2008-05-27 | FY-3A | CZ-4C | SSO | Yes |
| 2008-12-23 | FY-2E | CZ-3A | GEO 123.5°E | Not yet |
[edit] Planned satellites
The newer FY-3 series is an improved generation of polar orbiting heliosynchronous weather satellites. The FY-4 series is an improved generation of geosynchronous meteorological satellites.
[edit] References
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[edit] See also
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