38049 - FENGYUN 2F

FENGYUN 2F, a Chinese weather satellite, was launched from Xichang on 2012 January 13 at 00:56 UT by a Long March 3A rocket. The satellite weighed approximately 1,369 kg. FENGYUN 2F, also known as FY 2F, is part of the Fengyun 2 meteorological satellite series. It will collect real-time weather imagery every 15 minutes for forecasters in China and neighboring countries. The craft carries instruments for visible and infrared high-resolution cloud imagery and for monitoring space weather. The satellite will raise its orbit to an altitude of 22,300 miles over the equator and position itself over the equator at 112 degrees east longitude. FENGYUN 2F will begin its operational life as a backup satellite, serving with other previously launched weather satellites. FENGYUN 2F will have a design life of four years, an improvement over the previously launched Fengyun 2 satellite series.
The initial orbital parameters were period = 1,436.17 minutes, apogee = 35,812.5 km, perigee = 35,763.7 km, inclination = 2.3 degrees on 2012 Feb 19 at 23:00:58 UTC.

Alternate Names

38049 = 2012-002A

Facts in Brief

Launch Date: 2012-01-13
Launch Vehicle: Long March 3A
Launch Site: Xichang, Peoples Republic of China
Mass: 1369.0 kg