China placed the Fengyun-2D meteorological satellite into orbit Dec. 8, Xinhua announced. The Long March-3 rocket lifted off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province at 8:53 a.m. local time. The spacecraft, China’s second geostationary orbit meteorological satellite, will provide improved weather forecast services for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games as well as form an observation system with Fengyun-2C, China’s first geostationary weather satellite.