BEIJING -- Fengyun-4, the first of China's second-generation geostationary orbiting weather satellites, has sent its first collection of images and data.

The State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND) and the China Meteorological Administration published the images and data on Monday, signaling the successful upgrade of China's meteorological system.

The published images were obtained by the multi-channel scanning imagery radiometer and the atmospheric sounding interferometer, and information included data on the distribution and intensity of lightening, obtained by the lightening imaging sensor, according to Tian Yulong, chief engineer of the SASTIND.

Fengyun-4 was launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China's Sichuan province on Dec 11, 2016.

All major tests on functionality and imaging modes have been completed. It is expected to be fully operational in June or July.

China has successfully launched 15 weather satellites, eight of which are still in orbit.