China's second Olympic weather forecasting satellite, the Fengyun-3 (FY-3), is ready to set off at the Taiyuan satellite launch center in northern Shanxi Province on Tuesday morning.

Sources with the China National Space Administration said the weather condition was good and the center was well prepared for the launch.

The new satellite will provide accurate and timely information about weather changes to facilitate more precise weather forecasts during the Beijing Olympic Games, said a China Meteorological Administration (CMA)official earlier this month.

The official said the new satellite, with a bigger payload, would provide medium-range weather forecasts up to 10 to 15 days.

Zheng Guoguang, director of the CMA, said the FY-3 would work with the existing FY-2 to ensure timely weather forecast during the Olympics.

(Xinhua News Agency May 27, 2008)