China Launches New Weather Satellite into Space

Primarily developed by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the newly-launched satellite is expected to play a role in weather analysis and broadcasting, weather-related disaster monitoring and ecological and spatial environmental observations.

Carrying a payload that includes a rapid imager, the satellite will improve the country's capacity to observe small- and medium-scale harmful meteorological events like typhoons and sandstorms.

It will work together with its predecessor Fengyun 4A weather satellite.

The Long March 3B carrier rocket was developed by CASC's China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology. The launch on June 3 was the 372nd flight of the Long March family.

The Long March 3B carrier rocket, carrying the Fengyun-4B weather satellite, is launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China's Sichuan Province on June 3. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)