Issue 78

02 Flash Archive · Members Only

China Launches New Environmental Monitoring Satellite

3 Aug 2023: China launched a Long March-4C with the Fengyun-3F (FY-3F) satellite from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. FY-3 satellites are low polar-orbiters, operating at ~800km altitude, inclined at 98.8°. Using ten different instruments, this spacecraft will join seven currently active satellites to monitor…

Author Greg Gillinger Published July 29, 2025

– FY-3F is in the typical orbit for the odd numbered FY satellites, with a SMA of 826.4 km and a 98.8° inclination.

– FY-3F joins the China Meteorological Administration’s fleet of Fengyun satellites in low Earth and geosynchronous orbits. It replaces the Fengyun-3C satellite, launched in 2013.

– The satellite had a mass of around 5,070 lbs (2,300 kg) at launch, and is expected to operate for around a decade. The state-owned Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) developed the spacecraft.

-That path sends the satellite across the equator at 10:00 a.m. local time, meaning it is operating in a “morning orbit.”

-Previously, China launched FY-3E in July 2021 to provide coverage for “early morning orbit.”

-China launched the FY-3G in April 2023, however this satellite is in a much lower orbit than other FY-3 satellites likely to support its radar. FY-3G is in a 416.4 x 408 km orbit and is inclined at 50°. The other FY-3 satellites are all in orbits at >820 km and are inclined 98° (Sun synchronous orbit).

-China is currently the only country with four near-Earth orbit meteorological satellites in Sun-synchronous early morning, morning, afternoon and non-Sun-synchronous orbits.

-China also operates six environmental monitoring satellites in Geo-Stationary orbit: the FY-2 and FY-4 series spacecraft.

Issue 78

Fengyun-3F weather satellite in its morning orbit

Fengyun-3F satellite before launch

New launcher used for the Long March-4C mission

The Fengyun constellation: seven LEO and six GEO satellites