FENGYUN 2G

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FENGYUN 2G is classified as:

Weather

NORAD ID: 40367

Int'l Code: 2014-090A

Perigee: 35,774.8 km

Apogee: 35,807.1 km

Inclination: 4.8 °

Period: 1,436.0 minutes

Semi major axis: 42161 km

RCS: Unknown

Launch date: December 31, 2014
Source: People's Republic of China (PRC)
Launch site: Xichang Space Center, China (XSC)

FENGYUN 2G is a meteorological satellites to provide warnings of weather fronts and tropical cyclones across Asia. FENGYUN 2G will take over for the Fengyun 2E weather observatory at 105 degrees east longitude. China's fleet of Fengyun 2 spacecraft have a similar mission to NOAA's GOES weather satellites in geostationary orbit. They provide non-stop images of clouds and storm systems over a third of the planet from the Middle East to the Central Pacific Ocean. Made by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., Fengyun 2G is expected to operate at least four years, but previous Chinese weather satellites have functioned longer than designed. The new satellite features several technical improvements, and officials expect it to work until 2020, the China Meteorological Administration said on its website. The barrel-shaped satellite is spin-stabilized (rotating at 100 rpm) and carries a scanning radiometer to observe Earth's weather in visible and infrared wavelengths, allowing day and night imagery of storms. Its imaging instrument will take pictures of Earth every hour in most scenarios, but the updates will come every 30 minutes in some cases, such as China's flooding season from June through August each year. FENGYUN 2G can take observations of localized severe weather systems as rapidly as every six minutes in quick scan mode. A space environment monitor aboard Fengyun 2G will detect solar X-rays and high-energy particles to support space weather forecasting.