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Feng Yun 4 - Geo-stationary Meteorological Satellite System

China Meteorological Administration (CMA) is operating FENGYUN (or FY for acronym) geostationary and polar-orbiting satellite systems. Currently, six FY satellites are on-orbit with well performance, including four geostationary meteorological satellites and two polar orbiting meteorological satellites. FY satellites take place in series. The odd number series are the polar-orbiting, while the even number series are the geostationary. The capital letter after the serial number refers to the seat of a particular satellite in the launching sequence.

Feng Yun 4 / Storm IV is a second generation of Meteosat geostationary meteorological satellite. FY-4, a successor of FY-2 series, would further boost monitoring capabilities, such as the monitoring of cloud system and atmospherical temperature and humidity. The main development objectives are: satellite attitude stabilization mode for the three-axis stabilized and improve the time resolution observations and regional mobile detection capability; improve imaging device performance, in order to strengthen small and medium scale the ability of monitoring weather systems; development and microwave detection Atmospheric Sounding solve three-dimensional high-orbit remote sensing; the development of extreme ultraviolet and X-ray solar observation, to enhance space weather monitoring and warning. FY fourth satellite planned to develop two types of optical and microwave satellite.

China planned to launch the first satellite of the Fengyun-4 (FY-4) series, the country's second-generation geostationary meteorological satellites, around 2013, according to the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) in 2008. It is reported that after repeated demonstration, multi-channel visible and infrared imaging and infrared hyperspectral sounder (Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer), and the stars in the scientific and technological research related technologies, has made great progress.

China has a vast, land things span of more than 60 degrees, with the security of information resources and the demand for regional expansion, optical star in accordance with the East and West binary layout of the space orbit (binary operation), the western regional coverage in western China Star Observers, the Indian Ocean, Red Sea and the Middle East and west Europe, the Eastern Star Observers in the eastern part of China's regional coverage, expanding to the vast Pacific. Microwave detection of a single star to run the satellite, designated to cover our land in the best space-based orbital position. Optical satellite will be in the "Eleventh Five-Year" period to complete project models, and enter the development, in the "five-second" launch test satellite, the satellite to complete the assessment test and a clear state of satellite technology business, "Thirteen Five" Fire Storm 4 operational satellite and take over the task of Fengyun business.

"The Storm IV" is the second-generation geostationary meteorological satellites, by the Shanghai Aerospace Bureau, the "Storm II" led Qing Li, the chief architect of the design, full account of the marine, agriculture, forestry, water resources and the environment, the demand for space science and other fields, to achieve utilization. According to reports, "The Storm IV" Satellite detection equipment mainly two-dimensional scan of 10-channel imager, atmospheric vertical interferometric detector, lightning imaging device, CCD camera and the Earth Radiation Budget instrument, the earth disk imaging time of 15 minutes.

A second-generation geo-stationary Meteorological Remote Sensing earth observation duel purpose satellite called Feng Yun 4 is reportedly in the proposal stage of development with in this Five Year Plan (FYP) 2006-2010. Its first launch is tentatively slated for 2013 typically in the middle of the next five year plan 2011-2015 now being finalized with substantially advanced imaging systems capability planned. This spacecraft has been designated as the first payload for the Long March-5 booster with a payload mass of 8-9 tons which is beyond the present operational launch vehicle capability that is limited to 5.2 tons.

The full instrument packages planned had not been decided upon in October 2008 as this YF-2 successor proposal is developed. It is expected to be more advanced than the existing FY-3’s but in large part based on proven technology with new additions and greater reliance on in country developed systems and longer lifetime durability per the new State science and technology requirements. That is it must be developed base on Chinese technological development assets and not be depend on foreign suppliers for internal self reliance and national security reasons. In some cases some of the systems may benefited in a kind of cross pollination within the industry from other spacecraft project highly successful demonstrated capabilities. Substantial systems applicable technological decisions, design, development and production work lies ahead for the project that is split between two five year plans. This must receive both party and parliamentary approval beyond its existing State industry project development phase’s requirements. Some of these requirements may have already received tentative State approval. In all cases the organization involved in the project all work for the same central government employer. Seeing this new development announcement is another demonstration of the normal FYP development cycle that is totally predictable.

The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) intended to launch by the end of two FYP’s down the road ending in December 2020 a total of 22 meteorological satellites. With in that number the FY-2’s will constitute four of the launches while the FY-3’s will utilize 12 planned launches with six new FY-4’s launches also planned. Clearly the FY-4 series is aimed at achieving longer life durability verses the already flown existing satellite types of this series.

China launched a weather satellite 11 December 2016, marking an upgrade of China's meteorological satellites in geostationary orbit. The Fengyun-4 satellite, the first of China's second-generation weather satellites in geostationary orbit to have been launched, was also the country's first quantitative remote-sensing satellite in high orbit. The satellite, launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, was taken into orbit by a Long March-3B carrier rocket. The launch marked the 242nd mission of China's Long March series of rockets.

The satellite will make high time, spatial and spectral resolution observations of the atmosphere, clouds and space environment of China and surrounding regions, significantly improving capabilities of weather and climate forecasts, according to the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense. The China Meteorological Administration is the primary user of the satellite. Previously, China had successfully launched 14 weather satellites, seven of which were still in orbit.

There are four main payload carried on FY4.

1. AGRI (Advanced Geo. Radiation Imager): to fly on FY-4A/B/C, multi-spectral imager with two independent mirrors scanning north-south and east-west directions respectively; 216 sensors in 14 bands from visible to long-wave infrared (0.55~13.8 µm); on-board calibration for all bands, full optic length of radiation considered in calibration; resolutions : 500m x1(ch), 1km x 2(ch), 2 km x 4(ch), 4km x7(ch); S/N: 90~200. NE?T: 0.2~0.7K@300K; full disk time<15min.
2. GIIRS (Geo. Interferometric Infrared Sounder): to fly on FY-4A/B/C, two independent mirrors scanning north-south and east-west directions respectively; 32 x4 plane arrays for mid-wave (375 S/MIR channels) and long-wave infrared bands (538 LWIR channels); resolution: 16km; active and radiate coolers; radiometric calibration accuracy: 1K; spectral calibration accuracy: 10ppm; Mesoscale: 35 min (1000x1000km), China area: 67 min (5000x5000km).
3. LMI (Lightning Mapping Imager): to fly on FY-4A/C, two tubes for observation to achieve more spatial coverage; central wavelength: 777.4nm; S/N = 6; spatial resolution: 7.8km; temporal resolution: 2ms.
4. SEP (Space Environment Package): to fly on FY-4A/B/C, a suite that contains a Magnetometer for 3-D magnetic field intensity, an Energetic Particle Detector detecting high-energy electron storms (1~165MeV, and >165MeV) and proton events (0.4~4MeV), and Space Weather Effect Detectors for the impact of space weather on spacecraft.

The ground segment of FY-4A consists 9 systems. They are DTS(Data acquisition & Tele-command System), MCS (Mission management and Control System), NRS Navigation & Registration System), CVS (Calibration and Validation System), PGS Product Generation System),DSS (Data Service System), CNS(Computer & Network System),SWAS S (pace Weather Application System), ASVS (Application Simulation Validation System). Both FY-2 and FY-4 ground segment contains Ranging Stations (one primary station, three secondary stations including one back-up in Melbourne, Australia). The ground segment also includes the DCPs (Data Collection Platform), and HRIT/LRIT stations.

The preliminary demonstration of Fengyun-4 began in the 1990s. It is China's second-generation geostationary meteorological satellite. The main development goals are: the satellite attitude stabilization method is three-axis stabilization, improving the time resolution of observations and regional maneuvering detection capabilities; improving scanning Imager performance to strengthen the monitoring capabilities of small and medium-scale weather systems; develop atmospheric vertical detection and microwave detection to solve high-orbit three-dimensional remote sensing; develop extreme ultraviolet and X-ray solar observations to strengthen space weather monitoring and early warning. Fengyun-4 satellite plans to develop optical and microwave satellites.

It is reported that after many demonstrations, the multi-channel visible light infrared scanning imager and infrared hyperspectral detector (interferometric atmospheric vertical detector) and satellite-earth related technology have made great progress.

China has a vast territory, with a land span of more than 60 degrees from east to west. With the expansion of China's resources and security requirements for information areas, optical stars are arranged in space orbits according to the east and west double stars (double star operation), and the western star observation area covers western China, the Indian Ocean, The Red Sea and the Middle East are connected to Europe in the west, and the eastern star observation area covers the central and eastern parts of China and extends to the vast Pacific Ocean. Microwave detection satellites operate in a single satellite, and are fixed at the best space orbit position that can mainly cover China's territory. During the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" period, the optical satellite will complete the model approval and enter into research and development. During the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan", test satellites will be launched to complete the evaluation of test satellites and clarify the technical status of operational satellites. During the "13th Five-Year Plan", Fengyun-4 will be launched. Operational satellite and take over the mission of Fengyun-2.

"Fengyun-4" is the second-generation geostationary meteorological satellite, designed by Li Qing, the chief designer of "Fengyun-2" of Shanghai Space Administration, fully considering the needs of ocean, agriculture, forestry, water conservancy, environment, space science and other fields. for comprehensive utilization. According to reports, the main detection instruments of the "Fengyun-4" satellite are a 10-channel two-dimensional scanning imager, an interferometric atmospheric vertical detector, a lightning imager , a CCD camera, and an earth radiation budget instrument. The imaging time of the earth disk map is 15 minutes.

FY-4B and FY-4C in the second batch of FY-4, were scheduled be launched in 2021 and 2025 separately to ensure the continuity, reliability and stability of the observation service of geostationary meteorological satellites. FY-4B, which is the first operational geostationary satellite in FY-4 series, is scheduled to be launched in 2021. The main observation capabilities are similar to those of FY-4A, with some significant performance improvements. It will be probably positioned at a 123.5°E to continue operations as a main operational geostationary meteorological satellite. The remote sensing instruments on FY-4B are the AGRI, the GIIRS, the Geostationary High Speed Imager (GHI), and the SEP.

Compared with the previous two satellites FY-4A and FY-4B, the capability of FY-4C will get great improvements. The space weather monitoring capability of FY-4C has been further enhanced with the addition of some space weather observation instruments. The located position will be determined according to the technical status and other factors at that time. The remote sensing instruments are including AGRI, GIIRS, LMI, SEP, the Multiband Ionospheric Ultra-Violet Spectrum Imager (MUSI), the Solar Extreme-Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI), and the Solar X-EUV Irradiance Sensor (SXUS).

The first satellite of FY-4 MW series is planned to be launched in 2024. The main payload is the microwave sounder, which can perform full-disk observation and regional observation.

FY-4 series satellites represent an improved and new capability of the Chinese geostationary weather satellite system. With advanced imaging and sounding instruments on FY-4 series providing high temporal, spatial, and spectral resolution measurements, the benefit is expected to be large for severe weather monitoring, warning, and forecasting. The lightning information is expected to significantly improve warnings of severe storm hazards, convection precipitation, and lightning strikes. Assimilation of data and derived products from the AGRI, GIIRS, and LMI in both global and regional NWP models is expected to show valuable improvement in forecast skill. FY-4 series will also enhance the capabilities of space weather monitoring and warning.