The Fengyun 4B satellite has taken the place of the 4A satellite and is now ready for operation after adjustment and expanded service scope. It will support more countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.
Both the Fengyun 4A and 4B satellites were generally developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
The Fengyun 4A satellite was launched in December 2016 with a designed lifespan of seven years. The Fengyun 4B was launched in June 2021 and has been providing monitoring service for areas to the west of those covered by the 4A satellite.
The Fengyun 4A will continue observation service in the area west of the 4B satellite’s current position.
The Fengyun 4 series satellites are China’s second-generation geostationary meteorological satellites. Fengyun C, which is now under development, is scheduled to be launched in 2025.
Adopting a series of new technologies and products, the newly-developed satellite is expected to significantly enhance the comprehensive observational capabilities of the Fengyun 4 series and to perform a solar observation function.
What’s more, the development of the third batch of the Fengyun 4 satellites has been launched, which includes Fengyun D, E and F satellites.
They are expected to play a role in short-range weather forecasting, numerical weather prediction, and human-influenced weather applications, which will improve observational accuracy and the level of quantitative applications.
(Executive editor: Zhu Zeya)
