China has started its research in Fengyun 3 meteorological satellite
recently, officials with Shanghai Aerospace Administration announced
Sunday, December 31, 2000, in Shanghai.
The new satellite
is an improved version of the Fengyun 1 that is currently
operating in the orbit. The Fengyun 3 satellite will reach
the world technological level of early 20th century, and will
monitor the earth's meteorological conditions round-the-clock
by making multi-spectral, three-dimensional and quantitative
analysis.
The new satellite
is designed to be launched around early 2005. It will weight
at 2,200 kg with the designed life span of more than two years.
With a distinguishability of 250 meters, the satellite is
capable of distinguishing an expressway on the earth from
890 km in the space.
Now China has become
the third country, following the United States and Russia,
to develop and launch weather satellites with the sun- and
earth-synchronous orbits.
China launched
two Fengyun 1 weather satellites in 1988 and 1990 respectively.
The Fengyun 2 meteorological satellite was launched by a Long
March 3 carrier rocket in June this year.
As a key base of
China's aerospace industry, Shanghai Aerospace Administration
has successfully developed 12 satellites in the past 31 years.
It will bring out another six in the 10th Five-Year Plan period
(2001-2005), among which, the Fengyun 1-D will replace the
currently Fengyun 1-C in 2001 and the Fengyun 2-C will take
the place of Fengyun 2-B in 2003.
(People's Daily
01/03/2001)
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