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China's weather satellite starts monitoring

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-19 20:22

BEIJING -- China's Fengyun-2E weather satellite started its round-the-clock operations Tuesday, according to the China National Bureau of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.

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At the transfer ceremony of the satellite to the China Meteorological Administration, Sun Laiyan, vice director of the bureau, said that the satellite has passed all tests and demonstrated stable performance since its launch on December 23.

The satellite will ensure continuous data transfer of geostationary (GEO) meteorological satellite. Currently, three satellites of the Fengyun-2 series are operating in orbit.

China announced its Fengyun-2 series satellites project in 2001, which included the launch of three GEO meteorological satellites, namely Fengyun-2C, Fengyun-2D and Fengyun-2E.

Fengyun-2E is mainly designed for gathering meteorological, marine and ground weather data. It weighs 1,390 kilograms and has a life span of three years.

Every 25 minutes it snaps a complete infrared cloud image and water vapor distribution image. The cloud image can cover one-third of the earth surface.

With the Fengyun-2 series and Fengyuan-3 series, China is one of three countries and regions that boasts both GEO and polar-orbiting meteorological satellites.