China launches new weather satellite

Photo taken on Sept 23, 2013 shows a Long March-4C carrier rocket carrying a China's Fengyun-3 satellite taking off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, North China's Shanxi province. The new satellite, the third of China's Fengyun-3 (FY-3) series, will form a network with the first two FY-3 satellites to improve China's meteorological observation and medium-range weather forecast capabilities. [Photo/Xinhua]

TAIYUAN - China successfully launched a meteorological satellite into orbit at 11:07 am Monday, Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center said.

The third Fengyun-III satellite, carried by a Long March-4C carrier rocket, will join the previous two which are in orbit to boost China's weather monitoring capabilities.

The three Fengyun-III weather satellites, the country's second generation polar orbiting meteorological satellites, are useful in monitoring natural disasters and the eco-environment. They also provide meteorological information for global climate change studies as well as aviation and navigation.

The network of satellites will also shorten the updating hours of medium-range weather forecasting from 12 to six.

The first and second Fengyun-III were launched in May 2008 and November 2010 respectively.

This marks the 181st launch carried by a Long March rocket, according to the center.