FY 3A [CMA/NSMC]
Official name FENGYUN 3E
Alternative name Fengyun 3E
Cospar ID 2021-062A
Norad ID 49008
Launch date 2021-07-04
Launch site JSC
Launch vehicle CZ-4C
Country/Organization China
Type application Meteorology
Operator National Satellite Meteorological Centre
RCS size LARGE
Decay date ON ORBIT
Period (min) 101.43
Inclination (deg) 98.73
Perigee (km) 824
Apogee (km) 828
Eccentricity 0.00242130750605327
Mean motion (revs. per day) 14.1969831410825
Semi-Major axis (km) 7204.135
Raan (deg) 133.2882
Arg of perigee (deg) 119.2724
Shape Box + 2 Pan
Mass (kg) 2450
Height (m) 4.4
Width (m) 2
Depth (m) 2
Span (m^2) 10
Lifetime 3 years (4 years goal)
Contractors SAST
Power Deployable solar array, batteries

FY-3 (Feng Yun 3) is the second generation of chinese polar orbiting meteorological satellites, which are the follow-on to the FY-1 series.

The three-axis stabilized satellites feature one solar panel and following instruments:

  • VIRR (Visible and Infrared Radiometer)
  • IRAS (Infrared Atmospheric Sounder)
  • MWTS (Microwave Temperature Sounder)
  • MWHS (Microwave Humidity Sounder)
  • MERSI (Medium Resolution Spectral Imager)
  • SBUS (Solar Backscattering UV Sounder)
  • TOU (Total Ozone Unit)
  • MWRI (Microwave Radiation Imager)
  • ASI (Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer)
  • ERM (Earth Radiation Measurement)
  • SEM (Space Environment Monitor)
  • SIM (Solar Irradiation Monitor)

The first two missions, Feng Yun 3A and Feng Yun 3B are considered experimental, while beginning with Feng Yun 1C the satellites are operational missions. Feng Yun 3G and 3I are different from the main Feng Yun 3 series and are dedicated to precipitation monitoring.

Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
FENGYUN 3A 2008-026A 2008-05-27 TSC CZ-4C
FENGYUN 3B 2010-059A 2010-11-04 TSC CZ-4C
FENGYUN 3C 2013-052A 2013-09-23 TSC CZ-4C
FENGYUN 3D 2017-072A 2017-11-14 TSC CZ-4C with HEAD 1
FENGYUN 3E 2021-062A 2021-07-04 JSC CZ-4C
FENGYUN 3F 2023-111A 2023-08-03 JSC CZ-4C