China plans new meteorological satellites

BEIJING -- China has started the design of Fengyun 5 meteorological satellites and the third generation polar orbit meteorological satellite observation system, according to the Science and Technology Daily Thursday.

The new satellites and observation system will conduct high-precision global 3D atmospheric detection, the report quoted Zhang Peng, deputy director of National Satellite Meteorological Center as saying.

China has launched a total of 17 Fengyun meteorological satellites, with seven currently in orbit. With an increasing demand for meteorological satellite data, China plans to launch another nine Fengyun satellites before 2025.

Fengyun 5 satellites will be low-orbit meteorological satellites with a network of comprehensive observation satellites, special-purpose observation satellites and constellations for extreme weather monitoring.

They will be the successor of the Fengyun 3 satellites currently in service and are expected to completely replace them by 2035.

The planned meteorological satellites, including Fengyun 5 satellites in polar orbit and Fengyun 6 satellites in geostationary orbit, will better support meteorological disaster prevention and enhance global meteorological services, the report quoted Yang Jun, director of NSMC as saying.