CNSA director Sun Laiyan said the transfer of the satellite to the China Meteorological Administration marked the birth of China's new generation of polar-orbiting weather satellites.

The Fengyun-3 series of satellites were China's second generation of Polar-Orbiting Meteorological Satellites, which were able to provide global 3-dimensional atmospheric thermal image.

Their technology supports short-range weather forecasting and real-time monitoring of meteorological or hydrological disasters. They can also provide data to support research on global climate change.

The Fengyun-3A, together with the Fengyun-1D and Fengyun-2C, D and E, will form a satellite system to offer global around-the-clock weather monitoring.