Feng Yun-3C - CZ-4C - TSLC - September 23, 2013 (0307UTC)

• Feng Yun-3C - CZ-4C - TSLC - September 23, 2013 (0307UTC) by beidou on 19 Nov, 2012 17:35
• This will be the third satellite of FengYun-3 series, currently planned in 2013.
• #1 by beidou on 12 Dec, 2012 22:50
• According to Chinese source, this satellite will probably be launched with another satellite-XiWang-2.
• #2 by Galactic Penguin SST on 28 Jan, 2013 14:31
• This guy confirms that July is the earliest time that the satellite can be launched, as electrical tests on the satellite are only underway right now until early February, and the thermal / mechanical / electric reliability tests have yet to be done: http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=2299&pid=237425
  
  BTW it's FY-3C; FY-3B was launched in 2010. 
• #3 by Satori on 07 Jun, 2013 07:37
• Thermal and vacuum tests were recently completed (in Chinese) http://www.spacechina.com/n25/n144/n206/n214/c435178/content.html

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• #4 by Galactic Penguin SST on 26 Jun, 2013 12:08
• Quote from: beidou on 26 Jun, 2013 11:44

  A guy on 9ifly mentioned it will be on July 14th. http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=10910&pid=255855&fromuid=24484
  

  
  I think this is impossible since it only finished most of the testing by late last month. More likely this launch is NET September.
• #5 by beidou on 02 Aug, 2013 10:48
• The satellite is ready for transporting to the launch site.
• #6 by Satori on 30 Aug, 2013 08:14
• FY-3C arrived at Taiyuan on August 5. All tests on the satellite have been successful and currently the satellite is being submitted to the electrical tests.
  
  http://www.spacechina.com/n25/n144/n206/n133097/c512243/content.html (in Chinese).

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• #7 by beidou on 04 Sep, 2013 19:37
• According to a propaganda report on the Yaogan-17, there has been a processing team working on the CZ-4C rocket testing from late August; as someone pointed out that the FY-3C should be launched in the middle of September.
  Source: http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=2299&pid=263908&fromuid=24484
• #8 by beidou on 06 Sep, 2013 18:16
• G.S.T found Yuanwang-5 was in Jakarta on Friday, and he predicted the launch could be as soon as early next week.
  
  Source: http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=2299&pid=264118&fromuid=24484
• #9 by Galactic Penguin SST on 08 Sep, 2013 09:34
• Quote from: beidou on 06 Sep, 2013 18:16

  G.S.T found Yuanwang-5 was in Jakarta on Friday, and he predicted the launch could be as soon as early next week.
  
  Source: http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=2299&pid=264118&fromuid=24484
  

  
  Looks like I was reading the tea leaves in the wrong way - according to the China Meteorology Post the launch of FY-3C is scheduled in late September.
• #10 by Chris Bergin on 12 Sep, 2013 16:51
• Any NOTAMs yet for this one? If a launch date appears, I'd appreciate a PM so I don't miss it
• #11 by Galactic Penguin SST on 12 Sep, 2013 16:52
• Quote from: Chris Bergin on 12 Sep, 2013 16:51

  Any NOTAMs yet for this one? If a launch date appears, I'd appreciate a PM so I don't miss it
  

  
  As reported above, this launch is now planned in late September - probably in two weeks or so. 
• #12 by Galactic Penguin SST on 21 Sep, 2013 03:35
• Apparently this satellite is going into space very soon....probably as early as tomorrow. The sun-synchronous orbit of the satellite gives daily launch windows at around 3 am GMT, give or take 10 minutes or so.
• #13 by Galactic Penguin SST on 22 Sep, 2013 06:55
• Launch confirmed to happen tomorrow:
  
  A1511/13 - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY: N292924E1090112-N293419E1083705-N302704E1085107-N302205E1091525 BACK TO START. VERTICAL LIMITS:GND-UNL. GND - UNL, 23 SEP 03:00 2013 UNTIL 23 SEP 03:44 2013. CREATED: 22 SEP 06:34 2013
  
  The launch time should be very close to that of FY-3A - which lifted off at 03:02 UTC when it was launched in May 2008.
• #14 by Satori on 22 Sep, 2013 08:02
• http://www.wmo-sat.info/oscar/satellites/view/115 is giving a September 29 launch date.
• #15 by Galactic Penguin SST on 22 Sep, 2013 08:11
• Quote from: Satori on 22 Sep, 2013 08:02

  http://www.wmo-sat.info/oscar/satellites/view/115 is giving a September 29 launch date.
  

  
  When I visited it last week it only says "2013" - perhaps this is the old plan (after all earlier rumors pointed towards somewhere around Sep. 28).
• #16 by input~2 on 22 Sep, 2013 12:39
• A1511/13/ NOTAM for CZ-4C fairing
  to be compared with A7844/10 for Nov 4, 2010 FY-3B launch

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• #17 by Chris Bergin on 23 Sep, 2013 03:15
• So we're waiting on a launch confirmation.....
• #18 by Galactic Penguin SST on 23 Sep, 2013 03:25
• Quote from: Chris Bergin on 23 Sep, 2013 03:15

  So we're waiting on a launch confirmation.....
  

  
  Liftoff confirmed. 
• #19 by Chris Bergin on 23 Sep, 2013 03:28
• Super, thanks!
  
  Rui's article:
  http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/09/chinese-long-march-4c-fengyun-3-satellite/
• #20 by Galactic Penguin SST on 23 Sep, 2013 03:46
• Someone has now reported launch success - launch time is 03:07 UTC.
• #21 by Galactic Penguin SST on 23 Sep, 2013 04:12
• Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 23 Sep, 2013 03:46

  Someone has now reported launch success - launch time is 03:07 UTC.
  

  
  Now officially confirmed: http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2013/09-23/5310302.shtml

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• #22 by jcm on 23 Sep, 2013 05:27
• 3rd Fengyun 3  (di san ke fengyun sanhao)  cataloged as 39260, 2013-052A in 801 x 815 km x 98.8 deg
  SSO with 1010 LTDN.
  
  
• #23 by Galactic Penguin SST on 23 Sep, 2013 06:17
• News report about the launch: http://tv.cntv.cn/vodplay/a188c7b994ec43d58c97f1f96d25afda/860010-1102010100
  
  The exact launch time is 03:07:17.055 UTC.

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• #24 by chewi on 23 Sep, 2013 07:38
• China launches new weather satellite
  http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-09/23/c_132743243.htm
  
  

  Quote

  TAIYUAN, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- China successfully launched a meteorological satellite into orbit at 11:07 a.m. 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.
• #25 by Satori on 23 Sep, 2013 12:05
• The projected times of the different launch phases are visible in this picture (posted on the 9ifly Chinese space forum).

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• #26 by input~2 on 23 Sep, 2013 14:16
• launch video
  http://news.cntv.cn/2013/09/23/VIDE1379930761771544.shtml
  
• #27 by input~2 on 24 Sep, 2013 06:01
• CZ-4C 3rd stage catalogued as 39261, 2013-052B in 758 x 806 km x 98.8°
• #28 by Johnsnow on 24 Sep, 2013 13:11
• There are unidentified object falling down from the sky in thailand at around the same time of the launch
  is it possible to be parts from rocket stages?
  
  Can some body show me the rocket flight path? I'm just curious 
  
  http://pantip.com/topic/31023851

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• #29 by input~2 on 25 Sep, 2013 07:02
• Quote from: Johnsnow on 24 Sep, 2013 13:11

  There are unidentified object falling down from the sky in thailand at around the same time of the launch
  is it possible to be parts from rocket stages?
  
  Can some body show me the rocket flight path? I'm just curious 
  
  http://pantip.com/topic/31023851
  

  Here is a tentative flight path.

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• #30 by Johnsnow on 26 Sep, 2013 11:44
• Thanks a lot!! this is exciting since it's pass over the village that found the pieces in thailand.
  you can put this to google map to see where it's, I attached screen shot  to show the village but it's kinda small
  
  Amphoe Tan Sum Ubon Ratchathani Thailand
  
  

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• #31 by Satori on 06 May, 2014 16:26
• China's polar-orbiting meteorological satellite now operational.
• #32 by Satori on 18 Jun, 2014 17:53
• China put FY-3C into operation to improve earth observation.