Backgrounder: the history of China's Fengyun weather satellites

China on Friday successfully launched its second professional geostationary orbit meteorological satellite, Fengyun-2D (FY-2D), to provide better weather forecast services for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Fengyun-2D is the eighth meteorological satellite launched in China. The first seven include four Fengyun-1 polar orbit meteorological satellites and three Fengyun-2 series geostationary orbit meteorological satellites. The launch dates and sites are as follows:

-- Fengyun-1A, launched 7 September 1988, in Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, north China's Shanxi Province.

-- Fengyun-1B, launched 3 September 1990, in Taiyuan.

-- Fengyun-2A, launched 10 June 1997, in Xichang Satellite Launch Center, southwest China's Sichuan Province.

-- Fengyun-1C, launched 10 May 1999, in Taiyuan.

-- Fengyun-2B, launched 25 June 2000, in Xichang.

-- Fengyun-1D, launched 15 May 2002, in Taiyuan.

-- Fengyun-2C, launched 19 October 2004, in Xichang.

Fengyun-2D is a backup satellite for Fengyun-2C, the first professional geostationary orbit weather satellite in China. They can operate together on an enlarged monitoring areas in order to minimize potential losses from very severe weather.

Source: Xinhua