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| FY-3 | |
|---|---|
| Name | FY-3 |
| Country | People's Republic of China |
| Operator | China National Space Administration; China Meteorological Administration |
| Applications | Meteorology; Earth observation; Atmospheric science; Climate monitoring |
| Spacecraft type | Polar-orbiting satellite |
| Status | Active |
| Built by | China Academy of Space Technology; CAST |
| First launch | 2008-05-27 |
| Launch site | Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center |
| Launch vehicle | Long March 4B |
FY-3 FY-3 refers to a series of Chinese polar-orbiting meteorological satellites developed to provide global atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere, and land observations. The program supports operational weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and environmental research through a constellation of spacecraft carrying imagers, sounders, and microwave instruments. It integrates with national agencies and international programs to deliver routine meteorological products and advanced remote sensing datasets.
The constellation complements geostationary capabilities provided by Fengyun series spacecraft and augments polar-orbiting systems similar to NOAA-19, MetOp-A, and Suomi NPP. Operated jointly by the China Meteorological Administration and the China National Space Administration, the series advances China’s capabilities in atmospheric sounding, ocean color observation, and microwave remote sensing. The program aligns with international frameworks such as the World Meteorological Organization Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites and contributes to initiatives like the Group on Earth Observations.
Developed by the China Academy of Space Technology partnership with research institutes including the National Satellite Meteorological Center and universities like Peking University and Tsinghua University, the program aimed to modernize polar meteorological observation following earlier Chinese efforts. Primary objectives included improving numerical weather prediction inputs for agencies like the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, enhancing monitoring of phenomena studied by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and supplying data for disaster reduction per Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction goals.
Each satellite in the series carries a complement of instruments inspired by sensors aboard platforms such as NOAA POES and EUMETSAT assets. Typical payloads include: - Visible/infrared imagers comparable to AVHRR and VIIRS for cloud and surface monitoring. - Infrared and microwave sounders analogous to IASI and ATMS for temperature and humidity profiles used by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts assimilation systems. - Microwave radiometers and scatterometers related to instruments on MetOp and SAC-D/Aquarius for sea-surface wind and soil moisture retrievals. - Ozone and trace-gas monitors paralleling payloads from Aura and Envisat to support atmospheric chemistry studies conducted by teams at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and European Space Research and Technology Centre. Onboard systems were manufactured by entities like CAST and tested at facilities such as the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center.
Launches have used launch vehicles in the Long March family, including Long March 4B, from sites such as Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. The timeline parallels development and commissioning phases similar to those of NOAA and EUMETSAT polar missions, with iterative improvements announced by the China Meteorological Administration and program partners. Successive satellites entered sun-synchronous orbits to provide global coverage and overlap periods for intercalibration akin to practices at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Ground operations integrate mission control centers tied to the China Satellite Maritime Tracking and Control Department and data processing centers at the National Satellite Meteorological Center. Data products span level-1 radiances to level-2 geophysical retrievals used by operational centers including the China Meteorological Administration forecast services and regional agencies like the Hong Kong Observatory. Products include atmospheric sounding profiles, cloud masks, sea-surface temperature maps, and ozone concentration fields, distributed using systems comparable to Global Telecommunication System and collaborative portals used by Committee on Earth Observation Satellites members.
Datasets have been applied to numerical weather prediction at institutions such as the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and China Meteorological Administration modeling centers, assimilation experiments at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and climate trend analyses contributing to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessments. Applications include tropical cyclone tracking used by Joint Typhoon Warning Center, drought monitoring in coordination with Food and Agriculture Organization, and air quality studies linked to work by World Health Organization and regional environmental agencies.
The program engages in data exchange and calibration partnerships with international entities like EUMETSAT, NOAA, Japan Meteorological Agency, and research centers including NASA and European Space Agency. Collaborative efforts focus on instrument intercalibration, validation campaigns with field programs such as AERONET and shipborne measurements, and participation in global initiatives under the Group on Earth Observations and World Meteorological Organization. Data sharing supports regional forecasting centers and contributes to multilateral disaster response mechanisms coordinated by organizations including the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Category:Earth observation satellites of China