China successfully received data sent from the satellite Fengyun-3 07, enhancing its capability in predicting typhoon routes and precipitation.

The satellite was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on April 16 to its preset orbit. The ground meteorological station in Chinese cities including Urumqi, Kashgar and Guangzhou received the real-time broadcasting data the next day, which was the first time the satellite connected with the systems on the ground.

China started developing meteorological satellites in 1970 and has launched 20 Fengyun series meteorological satellites, among which eight are in service.

Fengyun-1 and Fengyun-3 are low-Earth-orbit satellites which rotate around Earth for global weather observation, while Fengyun-2 and Fengyun-4 are geostationary satellites, which are placed over China and neighboring areas for meteorological detection.

Qian Bin, chief designer of Fengyun-3, said the key task of the satellite is to monitor the heavy precipitation process of disastrous weather.

"It can complete the detection of the three-dimensional tomographic structure of the precipitation in the middle and low latitudes of the world within seven days, and provide the precipitation data of the region within 50 degrees of north and south latitude in China," Qian said.

The satellite will boost the accuracy of China's ability to predict typhoon routes and monitor the precipitation from drizzle to rainstorms of 50 millimeters per hour. It can also distinguish rain, snow and hail.

"The satellite carries four sets of payload, including dual-frequency radar for precipitation measurement, microwave imager, medium-resolution spectral imager, and global navigation satellite occultation detector," he added.

After the launch of Fengyun-3 07, China is currently the only country which have operates meteorological satellites for civil use in three sun-synchronous orbits (SSO) and an inclined orbit.