Feng Yun 2F (FY-2F)

Spacecraft nº:

Chinese spacecraft nº: 178

Launch data: Designation  38049 / 12002A Launch date  13 Jan 2012 - 00:56:04 UT Launch site  Xichang, LC-3 Launch vehicle  CZ-3A (#Y22) Mission  Meteorology, Earth Science Geostationary orbit on Feb 11.72: Perigee / Apogee  35760 x 35812 km Eccentricity  0.0006 Inclination  2.34 deg Period  1436.08 min

Description:

• Fengyun 2F will enter service for the China Meteorological Administration. The spacecraft will collect real-time weather imagery every 15 minutes for forecasters in China and neighboring countries. The satellite will position itself over the equator at 112 degrees east longitude. Fengyun 2F will begin its operational life as a backup satellite, serving with other weather satellites launched in 2006 and 2008. Fengyun 2F features improvements over earlier Fengyun 2-series satellites, including an extension of its design life to four years. The craft carries instruments for visible and infrared high-resolution cloud imagery and for monitoring space weather.

Mission details:

• The second Chinese launch this month was the fengyun erhao 07 xing (FY-2 satellite 07), also called FY-2F. This geostationary weather satellite was launched to a 362 x 35773 km x 24.3 deg geostationary transfer orbit.
• The Fengyun 2F spacecraft lifted off at 0056 GMT Friday (7:56 p.m. EST Thursday) from the Xichang space base in southwestern China's Sichuan province. Liftoff occurred at 8:56 a.m. Beijing time.
• The 172-foot-tall rocket released the 3,000-pound satellite in an oval-shaped transfer orbit about 24 minutes after launch.
  
• Fengyun 2F will enter service for the China Meteorological Administration. The spacecraft will collect real-time weather imagery every 15 minutes for forecasters in China and neighboring countries. In the next few weeks, the satellite will raise its orbit to an altitude of 22,300 miles over the equator and position itself over the equator at 112 degrees east longitude. Fengyun 2F will begin its operational life as a backup satellite, serving with other weather satellites launched in 2006 and 2008.