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China has successfully launched a new satellite as part of its meteorological spacecraft fleet. The launch took place at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert on August 2. The Fengyun-3F satellite, developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, was onboard the Long March 4C rocket.

The Fengyun-3F satellite joins the existing fleet of Fengyun satellites operated by the China Meteorological Administration. It replaces the Fengyun-3C satellite, which was launched in 2013. The satellite is equipped with 10 payloads for collecting weather data, including new instruments for ozone tracking. It has a launch mass of approximately 5,070 pounds and is expected to operate for about ten years.

Chinese state media reports that the satellite will play a key role in collecting data for climate change research, atmospheric chemistry, and studying the atmospheric environment. The satellite’s orbit has been tracked by the U.S. Space Force, which revealed that it is in a nearly circular orbit with a height of 501 miles and an inclination of 98 degrees. The satellite follows a path that crosses the equator at 10:00 a.m. local time, placing it in a “morning orbit.”

China currently maintains four meteorological satellites in different sun-synchronous early morning, morning, afternoon, and non-sun-synchronous orbits. This achievement positions China as the only country to have this level of coverage in near-Earth orbit, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

This launch marks China’s 32nd successful orbital launch of the year, with plans to launch approximately 200 spacecraft using Long March rockets. Chinese commercial launches will also contribute to sending additional satellites into space throughout the year.

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