FengYun 1 Meteorological Satellite

Last updated: 18 January 2007

Artist impression of the FengYun 1 (Source: Chinese Internet)

The FengYun 1 (FY-1) was China’s first meteorological satellite. A total of four satellites were launched into sun-synchronous orbits by ChangZheng-4 (CZ-4) launch vehicles from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre (TSLC) between 1988 and 2005. The satellite and its support systems were designed and developed by the Shanghai Satellite Engineering & Research Centre of the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), whereas the payload was developed by the Shanghai Technical Physics Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The FengYun-1 was three-axis stabilised, and employed an X-band data transmitter. The satellite’s design life was one year. Nickel-cadmium batteries were used for electrical power storage. Attitude control was maintained by a combination of nitrogen cold gas thrusters and reaction wheels.

The first satellite FengYun 1A (FY-1A) was an experimental satellite. Its payload consisted of two very high resolution scanning radiometers (VHRSR) with a combined mass of 95kg. These optical-mechanical scanners operated at 360 rpm with a 20cm diameter primary mirror in five spectral bands in visible and new infrared spectra. The system swath was 2,860km with a 1.08km resolution in the high-resolution picture transmission (HRPT) mode and 4km resolution in the automatic picture transmission (APT) mode. The satellite was 1.4m X 1.4m X 1.2m in size and weighted 750kg. It was powered by two solar panels about 3.5m long each. The FY-1A was launched by a CZ-4A space launch vehicle from Taiyuan on 7 September 1988. The satellite lost control only 39 days later due to altitude control system.

The second satellite FengYun 1B (FY-1B) was also experimental in nature but with increased size (1.4m X 1.4m X 1.8m and total mass (880kg). The satellite was launched from Taiyuan on 3 September 1990, but suffered from another control system malfunction 165 days after the launch. Although later the Xi'an ground control managed to regain the control, the satellite lost most of its fuel during its 72 days of manoeuvre and was forced to retire earlier than its designed life.

The third satellite FengYun 1C (FY-1C) was the first to be fully operational. The satellite was 2.02m X 2.00m X 2.215m in size and 958kg in weight. It carried a 10-channel scanning radiometer with a resolution equal to that of Feng Yun-1A and B, and has an extended design life of two years. The FengYun-1C was launched by a CZ-4B booster from Taiyuan on 10 May 1999 to sun-synchronous 870km, 98.8 degree inclination orbits. The satellite remained fully functional until 2005.

Development of the fourth satellite FengYun 1D (FY-1D) began in 2000, with 14 new improvements adopted. The satellite was sent into orbit on 15 May 2005 to replace the FY-1C.

The ground segment of the FY-1 consists of three ground stations located in Beijing, Guangzhou and Urumqi respectively and the Data Processing Centre (DPC) in National Satellite Meteorological Centre in Beijing. The data received at the ground stations are relayed in real time to the Beijing DPC for processing, distributing, and archiving. Products from the DPC include cloud image mosaic, meteorological parameters such as sea surface temperature, cloud top temperature and total water vapor, and regional environmental parameters such as vegetation index, snow cover, sea ice, land cover, etc. All raw data and products are archived on digital tapes.

China is planning to launch the first satellite of its new-generation FengYun 3 (FY-3) series polar meteorological satellite in 2007, which will eventually replace the FY-1.

Anti-Satellite Exercise

According to a report by Aviation Weeks and Space Technology on 17 January 2007, U.S. intelligence agencies believed that China carried out a successful anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon test on 11 January, destroying the retired FY-1C meteorological satellite with a kinetic kill vehicle launched onboard a modified medium-range ballistic missile, possibly a KT-2 space launch vehicle.

The report suggested that the FengYun 1C satellite (launched in 1999) was attacked by an ASAT system launched from an unknown location near Xichang Satellite Launch Centre (XSLC) as the satellite at 530 miles (853km) altitude 4 degree west of Xichang. The attack occurred at about 17:28 EST on 11 January 2007 (22:28 GMT, 06:28 on 12 January local time). This was the first exercise of this kind conducted by China, signifying a major new Chinese military capability.