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)