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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 Long March 4C rocket, adorned in white and red, lifted off at 11:47 p.m. EDT. The rocket emitted orange smoke upon ignition, followed by purple exhaust, as it soared into the blue sky.

The satellite, called Fengyun-3F, is now part of the China Meteorological Administration’s collection of Fengyun satellites in low Earth and geosynchronous orbits. It replaces the Fengyun-3C satellite, which was launched in 2013. Fengyun-3F is equipped with 10 payloads dedicated to weather data, including advanced instruments for ozone tracking. At launch, the satellite had a mass of approximately 5,070 pounds and is expected to have an operational lifespan of about ten years.

Developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), Fengyun-3F will gather data for climate change research, atmospheric chemistry, and atmospheric environment research. The satellite’s orbit is nearly circular, with an altitude of 501 miles and an inclination of 98 degrees. Its trajectory brings it close to the poles and crosses the equator at around 10:00 a.m. local time, operating in a “morning orbit.”

China currently stands as the sole country with four near-Earth orbit meteorological satellites in different types of orbits, as noted by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). This launch marks China’s 32nd successful orbital launch of 2023. The country has plans to deploy approximately 200 spacecraft this year using their Long March rockets, with commercial launches contributing additional satellites to space.

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