China lofts Fengyun 3E polar weather satellite
July 4, 2021
China has successfully launched a new polar weather satellite, Fengyun 3E. Liftoff of the mission took place at 23:28 UTC on 4 July 2021 from launch site SLS-2 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center using a Chang Zheng 4C rocket.
The launch was the second in as many days for China and successfully placed Fengyun 3E into a Sun-Synchronous Orbit at 808 km in altitude, inclined 98.8 degrees to the equator.
Fengyun 3E satellite
Fengyun 3E is part of the overall Fengyun 3 family of polar weather satellites, the second generation of such observatories for China.
Operated by the China Meteorological Administration and the National Satellite Meteorological Center, Fengyun 3E had a launch mass of approximately 2,250 kg and a three year guaranteed orbital lifetime, with four years of operations being preferred.