CMA satellites

China operates both geostationary and polar-orbiting meteorological satellites. So far, China has launched 6 polar-orbiting and 6 geostationary meteorological satellites. The following 7 satellites are currently functioning in orbit: FY-1D, FY-3A, FY-3B, FY-2C, FY-2D and FY-2E and FY-2F. The technologies used in FY-1 polar-orbiters have been upgraded, and they are operating in a network covering both morning and afternoon orbits. The geostationary satellites are functioning in a dual-satellite mode, providing mutual backups in orbit. All FY meteorological satellites have been put into operation; they are developing in series, and they have been incorporated into the global constellations of operational meteorological satellites within the WMO framework.

The ground application system for FY satellites consists of the Beijing Data Processing Centre, 5 ground receiving stations (i.e. at Beijing, Guangzhou, Urumqi, Jiamusi in China, and Kiruna in Sweden), and many User Service Stations across the country. It receives and processes remote-sensing data from more than 10 domestic and foreign satellites on a routine basis, generating nearly a hundred satellite products that are tailored to the needs of different users each day. These products are disseminated to users within the Asia-Pacific region via dedicated links, the Internet, the CMA-Cast data broadcasting system for government decision-making, disaster prevention, preparedness and mitigation, as well as services in response to global climate change.

For further reading go to http://www.cma.gov.cn/en2014/satellites/