Satellite Objectives:
Feng Yun-3A was launched by a CZ-4C Chang Zheng-4C launch vehicle, an optimized version of the CZ-4B Chang Zheng-4B launch vehicle - using an upper stage with restart capability, and a new interstage adapter between the first and second stages.
The satellite was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Space Flight Technology (SAST) and is a three-axis stabilized vehicle measuring 4.4 x 2 x 2 meters, with a launch mass of 2200 kg.
With a operational life of three years, Feng Yun-3A is equipped with a solar panel mounted on one side of the satellite main body, making for a total length of approximately 10 meters in orbit.
'The main objectives of the Feng Yun-3A are to provide global sounding of three dimensional thermal and moisture structures of the atmosphere, cloud and precipitation parameters to support global and regional numerical weather prediction,' noted to Wenjian Zhang, of the National Satellite Meteorological Center.
'It will provide global imaging to support short range weather forecasting and real time monitoring of meteorological and hydrological disasters and surface environment anomaly; to provide necessary data for deriving important geophysical parameters to support researchers on global change and climate change; and to collect and relay important meteorological data.'
Satellite Instrumentation:
To achieve it's mission, Feng Yun-3A is carrying a variety of scientific instruments, including the Visible and InfraRed Radiometer (VIRR) - a 10 channel radiometer that will make operational observations.
Also included on the bird is the Moderate Resolution Visible and Infrared Imager (MODI) - which will image the Earth in high resolution and near true colour imagery during the day, and high resolution thermal Infra Red image during the night. Other instruments include:
The Microwave Radiation Imager (MWRI) - which will measure thermal microwave emissions from land and ocean surfaces, along with the ability to take measurements of various forms of waters in the atmosphere, clouds and surfaces using six frequency points with dual polarizations.
The Infrared Atmospheric Sounder (IRAS) will be used to measure aerosols, stratospheric temperatures, carbon dioxide contents and cirrus.
The Microwave atmospheric Temperature Sounder (MWTS) is capable of 'temperature sounding' in cloudy regions, along with the Microwave atmospheric Humidity Sounder (MWHS) - which will be utilized for humidity sounding in cloudy regions.
The Total Ozone Mapper and Ozone Profiler (TOM/OP), which is based on two instruments that will study the ozone in the Earths atmosphere, along with the Earth Radiation Budget Unit (ERBU) - which is similar to the ERBE used on NOAA satellites, and includes a separate solar constant monitoring instrument.
The Space Environment Monitoring Unit (SEMU) will be used for space environment monitoring, with improved accuracy and measuring capacity for high-energy particles. The data will be transmitted to Earth using two X-band transmitters and an L-band transmitter.
The Feng Yun-3A is the first R&D satellite with Feng Yun-3B expected to join it 2009/2010. The operational Feng Yun-3 system will be eventually composed of six satellites.
Chinese Outlook:
Today's launch is the is the second for China in 2008 - a year that should see the launch of the Shenzhou-7, crewed by three Yuangyuans. One of the crewmembers will carry out the first extravehicular activity (EVA) of the ambitious Chinese space program.
Launch of Shenzhou-7 is scheduled to take place between the 12th and 14th of October.
The next Chinese launch will likely take place on June 6, when a CZ-3B Chang Zheng-3B rocket will orbit the ZX-9 ZhongXing-9 (ChinaSat-9) telecommunications satellite, from the Xixhang Satellite Launch Center.
A Long March 4C rocket
The Chinese National Space Administration has launched a Long March 4C carrier rocket, carrying the Fengyun-3A (FY-3A) weather satellite. FY-3A is the first of thirteen Fengyun-3 satellites, which will be launched in the next twelve years.

The launch occurred from Launch Area 1 at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in Shanxi province, China. Lift-off was at 03:02 GMT this morning, and the ascent to orbit took around 27 minutes, resulting in the successful deployment of the satellite.

Fengyun-3A will provide weather forecasts for the upcoming Olympic Games. It will also be used for general forecasting, both for China and the rest of the world. It will be able to make forecasts around a fortnight in advance. With a 250 metre resolution, it is the most advanced Chinese weather satellite yet launched.

This is the 26th orbital launch of 2008, the 106th launch of a Long March rocket, and the 3rd launch of the Long March 4C, which first flew in 2006. The next scheduled Chinese launch is believed to be a Long March 3B from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, with the Chinasat 9 satellite. This will occur in early June.