Beginning with the launch of Fengyun-1D (FY-1D, Fengyun means "Wind and Cloud") next year, six new metsats would be launched by the time the Olympiad opens here in 2008.

Dong Chaohua, Director of the National Satellite Meteorological Center (NSMC), said that China would almost launch one metsat every year during the period.

The plan received State approval with a projected expenditure of several billion dollars renminbi ($1 billion renminbi = $121 million US).

NSMC is a scientific research and operational facility affiliated with the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) and is responsible for receiving, processing and distributing data to users.

The new preliminary plan to launch the polar-orbiting sunsynchronous FY-1D aboard a Changzheng-4 (LM-4) rocket is set for no later than June 2002. This is a year later than the original timeline, which calls for the launch in May this year.

In addition to the FY-1D launch next year, the plan sees the geostationary FY-2C to be launched in 2003, FY-3A in 2004, FY-3B and -2D in 2006 and FY-3C in 2008. The FY-3 series is the next generation polar-orbiting sunsynchronous metsats.

Each of the new metsat would have a design life of 2 to 3 years.

Deputy Director of CMA Li Huang said, "These six meteorological satellites will improve our overall meteorological monitoring technology. The advanced satellites will monitor and forecast disasterous weather around the clock, particularly convective rainstorms, thunderstorms and hailstorms."

These satellites will also monitor sandstorm development and air quality and provide early warnings.

Li added that the satellites which would be launched closer to 2008 would help forecast short- , medium- and long-term weather and monitor the atmospheric environment for the Olympics.

FY-1D Insured
The weekly China Space News reported in its Aug. 24 edition that CMA also signed on Jiang Tai Insurance Broker Co., Ltd in recent days as a consultant to procure insurance coverage for FY-1D.

The one-year-old Jiang Tai is the only insurance brokerage firm in China. Despite its infancy, the company has provided consulting services to over 300 domestic and foreign large enterprises.

This is the first time the Chinese insurance brokerage industry enters the space insurance arena.

CMA has long recognized that among the characteristics of its metsats is high technology and the associated high risk. Thus the administration treats risk management very seriously.

Since there was no insurance brokerage company in China when FY-1C was launched in May 1999, CMA had to undertake its own insurance coverage for the satellite. Due to a lack of professional insurance knowledge, the work involved was difficult.

With the launch of the replacement satellite FY-1D, CMA follows the custom of the international insurance market to entrust Jiang Tai to make arrangment for insurance coverage. This reduces the premium and helps cut the cost of the mission.

Three Decades Of Metsat Development
The commitment to launch six metsats in the coming years is part of the government campaign to modernize weather information gathering and forecasting.

After 30 years of research and development, China joins U.S. and Russia to have its own fleet of geostationary and polar-orbiting metsats.

A conference was held here June 29 to mark the anniversary and to showcase past achievements and future visions.

Reflecting on the three decades of work at the conference, Director of CMA Qin Daihe said, "Meteorological satellites have offered an increasingly irreplaceable effects in areas such as meteorology, oceanography, agriculture, forestry, hydrology, aviation, navigation, environmental protection and national defense, and have made significant contribution to building the national economy and preventing and mitigating disasters."

Also speaking at the conference was Zhou Guangzhao, a Vice Chairman of National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee and Chairman of China Association for Science and Technology.

Zhou looked ahead to future development of China's satellite meteorology and made three points of aspiration:

1. To learn, master and apply advanced satellite meteorology technologies, and encourage innovation that would contribute to science education and national prosperity and support a sustainable development strategy.

2. Scientists who participate in satellite meteorological work must possess a scientific spirit and thinking and master scientific methods. These scientists would also help popularize knowledge of satellite meteorology science and promote scientific spirit among the public.

3. To continue foster and employ talented personnel.