China launches new meteorological satellite

Fengyun 3D blasts off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province, Nov 15, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

TAIYUAN -- China launched a new meteorological satellite, Fengyun 3D, at 2:35 a.m. Beijing Time Wednesday from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern China's Shanxi province.

A Long March 4C rocket carried the satellite into space. The satellite has entered its orbit.

Fengyun-3D is one of China's second generation of Polar-Orbiting Meteorological Satellites, which can provide global three dimensional all-weather and multi-spectral remote sensing images.

The satellite will form a network with the Fengyun 3C satellite, which was launched into space in September 2013, to improve the accuracy of atmospheric sounding and enhance the monitoring of greenhouse gases. The network will help China's disaster relief work.

The Fengyun 3D satellite and the Long March 4C rocket were developed by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology under China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

The launch was the 254th mission of the Long March rocket series.