Fengyun-1D, the meteorological satellite launched into orbit early
yesterday, has started to send back cloud maps to Earth.
Dong Chaohua, an official from the State Satellite Meteorological
Center, said his center has received the satellite's first map.
"The imaging is clear, showing that the instruments installed on
Fengyun-1D, the communication links between the satellite and Earth
and the ground-applied systems, are all working properly," Dong
said.
Fengyun-1D, the first generation meteorological satellite developed
by China, is one of the two new satellites China successfully
launched at 9:50 am (Beijing time) yesterday on a Long March 4
rocket. It lifted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in
North China's Shanxi Province.
The other satellite is Haiyang-1, the first marine surveying
satellite independently developed by China.
Technicians said the Haiyang-1 satellite used visible light and
infrared spectral coverage to probe water temperature and was
equipped with remote sensors to transfer digital and image messages
back to Earth.
Zhang Yongwei, chief designer of Haiyang-1, said new technology was
used in five areas of the satellite's design and development. They
include freezing by mechanical means and using an independent axle
drive to propel two solar wings.
The technological breakthroughs have enabled Haiyang-1 satellite to
reach an internationally advanced level, Zhang said.
Compared with foreign satellites, Haiyang-1's fairly complete
spectral coverage and co-existence of visible light and infrared
remote sensing enables it to obtain more precise data about the
color of the ocean and the temperature of the surface.
Experts said the successful launch of the two satellites will help
China speed up its meteorological research and promote national
economic development.
Statistics show that the error of launch precision with the carrier
rocket is less than 1,000 meters, far below the error benchmark
allowed.
China had so far successfully launched 12 kinds of Long March
rockets and had just finished research on two new rockets awaiting
test launches, said Zhang Qingwei, general manager of the China Aerospace
Science and Technology Company Group.
"Long March series rockets, with their designed carrying
capacities, have met the demands for launching space vehicles at
lower, middle and higher earth orbits," Zhang Qingwei said.
(Xinhua News
Agency May 16, 2002)