Feng-Yun

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Feng-Yun (also Feng Yun, Fengyun, FY) are China's weather satellites. The term translates as "Wind and Cloud." China has launched polar orbit and geosynchronous orbit meteorological satellites since 1988.

The satellites in the FY-1 series are polar orbiting sun-synchronous orbits. The satellites in the FY-2 series are in geosynchronous orbit.

The newer FY-3 series is an improved generation of polar orbiting heliosynchronous weather satellites. The FY-4 series is an improved generation of geosynchronous meteorological satellites.

The meteorological satellites also important in oceanography, agriculture, forestry, hydrology, aviation, navigation, environmental protection and national defense. They contribute to the national economy and to preventing and mitigating disasters. The latest satellites monitor bad weather around the clock, particularly convective rainstorms, thunderstorms and hailstorms. They also monitor developing sandstorms as well as air quality and provide early warnings.

According to the Beijing Evening Post, China's National Satellite Meteorological Center (NSMC) has said the Asian nation plans to launch several FY meteorological satellites before the 2008 Olympiad; those satellites would help forecasters predict weather for the Beijing Olympics.

Year	Satellites	Orbit	In use
1988	FY-1A	SSO	No
1990	FY-1B	SSO	No
1997	FY-2A	GEO 105°E	No
1999	FY-1C	SSO	?
2000	FY-2B	GEO 105°E	No
2002	FY-1D	SSO	Yes
2004	FY-2C	GEO 105°E	Yes