Fēngyún (FY, ) are China's meteorological satellites. Launched since 1988 into polar Sun-synchronous and geosynchronous orbit, each three-axis stabilized Fengyun satellite is built by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) and operated by the China Meteorological Administration (CMA). To date, China has launched twenty-one Fengyun satellites in four classes (FY-1 through FY-4). Fengyun 1 and Fengyun 3 satellites are in polar, Sun-synchronous orbit and Low Earth orbit while Fengyun 2 and 4 are geosynchronous orbit.
On 11 January 2007, China destroyed one of these satellites (FY-1C, COSPAR 1999-025A) in a test of an anti-satellite missile. According to NASA, the intentional destruction of FY-1C created more than 3,000 high-velocity debris items, a larger amount of dangerous space debris than any other space mission in history.NASA identifies Top Ten space junk missions ; Michael Cooney, NetworkWorld, 28 July 2010
Classes
Fengyun 1 The four satellites of the Fengyun 1 (or FY-1) class were China's first meteorological satellites placed in polar, Sun-synchronous orbit. In this orbit, FY-1 satellites orbited the Earth at both a low altitude (approximate 900 km above the Earth's surface), and at a high inclination between 98.8° and 99.2° traversing the North Pole every 14 minutes, giving FY-1-class satellites global meteorological coverage with a rapid revisit time and closer proximity to the clouds they image. FY-1A, launched in September 1988, lasted 39 days until it suffered attitude control problems. FY-1B, launched in September 1990 along with the first two QQW (Qi Qiu Weixing) balloon satellites, lasted until late 1992 when its attitude control system also failed. FY-1C, launched in May 1999 along with Shijian-5, also completed its two-year design life operating until January 2004. The last satellite of the class, FY-1D, was launched in May 2002 and operated continuously for nine years until in May 2011 operations were temporarily lost. Despite resuscitation, FY-1D failed on 1 April 2012.
All Fengyun 1 satellites were launched from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (TSLC) in Shanxi Province on Long March 4A and 4B rockets and weighed 750 kg, 880 kg, 954 kg, and 954 kg respectively. Aboard each satellite were two multichannel visible and infrared scanning radiometers (MVISR) built by the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics (SITP) bearing an optical scanner, image processor, radiant cooler, and controller for the radiant cooler.Lui, A., 2019. Imaging global auroras in space. Light: Science & Applications, 8(1). FY-1C and FY-1D satellites also carried on board a high-energy particle detector (HEPD) for study of the space environment, contributing to their increased mass. FY-1 satellites are powered by two deployable solar arrays and internal batteries.
Destruction of FY-1C
On 11 January 2007, China conducted its first anti-satellite (ASAT) missile test, destroying FY-1C with a kinetic kill vehicle, identified by the United States Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) as the SC-19, a modified DF-21 ballistic missile with mounted kill vehicle. The shootdown, and the subsequent creation of a record-setting amount of in-orbit debris, drew serious international criticism.BBC News (2007). Concern over China's missile test. Retrieved January 20, 2007.
Fengyun 2 Satellites of the Fengyun 2 class are based on the spin-stabilized Dong Fang Hong 2 platform and are China's first class of meteorological satellites in geostationary orbit. Unlike meteorological satellites in polar orbit (like the FY-1 and FY-3 classes), FY-2 satellites in geostationary orbit remain in a fixed position relative to the Earth 35,000 km above its surface and maintain a constant watch over an assigned area. Unlike polar orbiting satellites which view the same area about twice a day, geostationary satellites can image a location as fast as once a minute and show long term meteorological trends - at the cost of resolution.
Built by the Shanghai Institute of Satellite Engineering and operated by the Chinese Meteorological Administration, FY-2 satellites are 4.5 m tall and are spin-stabilized rotating at 100 rotations per minute. FY-2-class satellites have been marketed for their openly available data whereby any user with a receiver could view FY-2 derived sensory data. Satellites of the Fengyun 2 class have a mass of 1,380 kilograms, use solar cells and batteries for power, and a FG-36 apogee motor jettisoned after attaining orbit.
On 2 April 1994, China attempted to launch the Fengyun 2 from Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) when, prior to its mating with the Long March 3, a fire caused an explosion destroying the satellite, killing a technician, and injuring 20 others. Officials of the Chinese space agency described the US$75 million loss of the satellite as a "major setback" to the Chinese space program. Despite this, China launched eight successive Fengyun 2 satellites without incident.
Fengyun 3 Chinese participation in the monitoring of auroras for scientific and space weather investigation was initiated with the launch of the Fengyun-3D satellite, which carries a wide-field auroral imager.
Fengyun 4
As of 2021, China has launched two Fengyun 4 class satellites.
List of satellites SatelliteLaunch Orbit Orbital apsisInclinationPeriod (min)SCNCOSPARLaunch siteVehicle Status Fenyun 1A6 September 1988 Sun-synchronous880.0 km × 899.9 km 99.2°102.619467 TSLCLong March 4A Fengyun 1B3 September 1990 Sun-synchronous880.2 km × 902.5 km 98.8°102.620788 TSLCLong March 4A Fengyun 2-014 April 1994Exploded before launch XSLCLong March 3Destroyed before launchFengyun 2A10 June 1997 Geostationary36,588.1 km × 37,451.4 km 15.0°1499.124834 XSLCLong March 3 Fengyun 1C10 May 1999 Sun-synchronous832.3 km × 851.7 km 99.0°101.425730 TSLCLong March 4B Fengyun 2B25 June 2000 Geostationary35,830.7 km × 35,848.3 km 11.9°1438.726382 XSLCLong March 3 Fengyun 1D15 May 2002 Sun-synchronous855.7 km × 878.8 km 99.1°102.127431 TSLCLong March 4B Fengyun 2C19 October 2004 Geostationary36,393.0 km × 36,443.3 km 10.2°1468.128451 XSLCLong March 3A Fengyun 2D8 December 2006 Geostationary36,330.7 km × 36,442.4 km 8.3°1466.529640 XSLCLong March 3A Fengyun 3A27 May 2008 Sun-synchronous830.0 km × 843.5 km 98.5°101.432958 TSLCLong March 4C Fengyun 2E23 December 2008 Geostationary35,785.9 km × 35,805.9 km 6.1°1436.133463 XSLCLong March 3A Fengyun 3B4 November 2010 Sun-synchronous835.3 km × 868.6 km 99.1°101.837214 TSLCLong March 4C Fengyun 2F13 January 2012 Geostationary35,794.2 km × 35,799.5 km 4.0°1436.238049 XSLCLong March 3A Fengyun 3C23 September 2013 Sun-synchronous837.7 km × 854.8 km 98.5°101.639260 TSLCLong March 4C Fengyun 2G31 December 2014 Geostationary35,782.4 km × 35,798.7 km 2.1°1435.940367 XSLCLong March 3A Fengyun 4A10 December 2016 Geostationary35,784.0 km × 35,802.9 km 0.2°1436.241882 XSLCLong March 3B Fengyun 3D14 November 2017 Sun-synchronous833.4 km × 836.9 km 98.8°101.443010 TSLCLong March 4C Fengyun 2H5 June 2018Geostationary35,776.6 km × 35,814.1 km 1.3°1436.043491 XSLCLong March 3A Fengyun 4B2 June 2021 Geostationary35,786.6 km × 35,802.2 km 0.2°1436.148808 XSLCLong March 3B Fengyun 3E4 July 2021 Sun-synchronous831.3 km × 835.4 km 98.7°101.449008 JSLCLong March 4C Fengyun 3G16 April 2023 Low Earth410.0 km × 416.0km 50.0°92.756232 JSLCLong March 4B Fengyun 3F3 August 2023 Sun-synchronous832.9 km × 834.1km98.8°101.457490 JSLCLong March 4C Sources: USSPACECOM, NASA, WMO, CelesTrak
See also China Meteorological Administration 2007 Chinese anti-satellite missile test Yunhai-2 Gaofen
References
External links Fēngyún-3 satellite programme