China has started developing a new generation of meteorological satellites as part of a 10-year, $121 million programme. The country also plans to develop a new Long March 5 booster.
Three new Fengyun (FY) 3 series craft will be 2,200kg (4,850lb) three-axis stabilised satellites placed into polar orbit and equipped with a suite of instruments which will be verified during a technology pathfinder flight in 2004-5. These include a multichannel visible and infrared scan radiometer with a resolution of 250m (820ft).
The FY3s will replace the FY1 fleet. Plans are in hand to build a new series of FY4s to replace the FY2 geostationary orbiting satellites. The threes FY4s will be three-axis stabilised rather than spin-stabilised like the FY2. The FY2B will be complemented by FY2C in 2003, with FY2D and 2E following in 2006 and 2008 respectively.
The six Fengyun meteorological satellites will be launched by 2008 to ensure a complete weather service for the 2008 Olympic Games.
China Great Wall Industry, meanwhile, is planning a Long March 5 booster capable of placing 13,000kg into geostationary transfer orbit.
The new series would use modular stages, offering a wide range of satellite launch capabilities. Three modular stages are planned with diameters of 5m, 3.25m and 2.25m, each powered by new 270,000lb thrust (1,200kN) hydrocarbon engines. These would be equipped with stages powered by cryogenic liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen with 110,000lbs thrust. The heavy lift version of the Long March 5 would introduce cryogenic first stage boosters with hydrocarbon upper stages.
Meanwhile, China Aerospace Science and Technology and China Research Institute of Space Technology have formed a joint venture to design and develop small satellites for commercial applications.
Source: Flight International
