An illustration of the nine Fengyun meteorological satellites currently in orbit. /CMA

The Fengyun-3F satellite, launched on August 3, 2023, officially entered operational service recently and will take over the in-orbit duties of the Fengyun-3C satellite.

Equipped with 10 operational instruments, the satellite is able to conduct full-spectrum, high-spectral and quantitative observations. These capabilities significantly enhance the precision of observing global atmospheric and surface environmental conditions, including atmospheric temperature and humidity profile information, trace gases and Earth's radiation balance.

China's Fengyun meteorological satellites have been widely used in fields such as weather forecasting, climate prediction, natural disaster and environmental monitoring, and scientific research, as well as in many industries such as meteorology, oceanography, agriculture, forestry, water conservancy, transportation, aviation and aerospace.

The Fengyun meteorological satellites are a series of meteorological remote sensing satellites independently developed by China.

In 1988, China successfully launched its first meteorological satellite. China has successfully launched a total of 21 Fengyun meteorological satellites, with nine currently operational in orbit. These satellites provide data and products to 129 countries and regions, according to the China Meteorological Administration (CMA).

On November 13, 2023, the app "Fengyun Earth" international version was officially released. 

According to the CMA, Fengyun meteorological satellites have responded to 28 international requests for emergency support services since 2023. They have observed tropical cyclones "Lola" and "Mocha," providing meteorological support services to countries such as the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Bangladesh.

They have also assisted in monitoring intense fire spots ranging from the northern coastal regions of Algeria to the northwestern regions of Tunisia, supporting local efforts in fire prevention and control.