The State Administration of Science，Technology and Industry for National Defence organized a in-orbit consign ceremony of meteorological satellite FY-III B in Beijing lately. China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, who Research and development the satellite, consigned it officially to its user-- China Meteorological Administration.

FY-III B which designed by China independently is a new generation sun-synchronous orbit meteorological satellite. It has 3-year design life. FY-III B was launched from the Taiyuan satellite launch center atop a CZ-3C Y7 carrier rocket on November 5, 2010. The satellite system is working properly through six months of in-orbit testing. The quality of obtained images and data is good. The main function and performance indicators satisfied the design mission statement.

FY-III B is the second satellite of generation 2 polar-orbiting meteorological satellite. After its success successful launch, two satellite observation net of China's polar-orbiting meteorological satellite morning orbit and afternoon orbit, which composed by it and FY-III A which launched in 2008 has come true at the first time, which increase global observing frequency from every 12h to 6h. The observation net is very important for ensuring the business operation of our polar orbit meteorological satellite is stable and further enhancing the global observing capabilities. It also indicates that China's new generation polar orbit meteorological satellite technology tends to mature. As the first afternoon orbit meteorological satellite of China , FY-III B has filled in the blank of China’s polar-orbiting meteorological observation afternoon time window, which is very effective for storm monitoring and forecasting accuracy in southern China where often rain in afternoon.

The officially use of FY-III B indicates that polar orbit meteorological satellite has realized a real upgrading. It also indicates that the meteorological satelliteachieved a great-leap-forward development and reached the world advanced level. Satellite FY-III has realized 5 technological breakthroughs that is from single remote sensing image to earth environment integrated observation; from optical remote sensing to microwave remote sensing; from Km-resolution to one hundred meters-resolution; from domestic receive to polar Receive; from single star observation to two satellite observation net, which fill in the blank of China’s Satellite platform, payload development, etc. The obtain data has been large applied, which played an important role in weather protection, disaster prevention and mitigation, environmental monitoring, etc.