Overview of Japanese Earth observation programs

Abstract

Currently, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and Japan Space Systems (JSS) are operating major Earth Observation Satellites. Ibuki (GOSAT) carrying TANSO-CAI and -FTS, GOSAT-2 carrying TANSO-CAI2 and -FTS2, Shizuku (GCOM-W) carrying AMSR2, Daichi-2 (ALOS-2) carrying PALSAR-2 + CIRC, DPR on GPM-core satellite of NASA, and Shikisai (GCOM-C) carrying SGLI, are being operated by JAXA under cooperation with some domestic agencies, such as Ministry of Environment (MoE), National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT). Super Low Altitude Test Satellite (SLATS) completed its mission successfully. JMA is operating weather satellite Himawari-8 and -9 on geostationary orbit. JSS are operating ASTER on EOS-Terra satellite of NASA and HISUI on ISS. For coming satellites or instruments, JAXA is going to operate CPR on EarthCARE satellite of ESA, ALOS-3 carrying the “wide-swath and high-resolution optical imager”, ALOS-4 carrying PALSAR-3 and GOSAT-GW carrying TANSO-3 + AMSR-3 as follow-on mission for GOSAT-2. In addition to follow-on mission studies, several new studies are underway for near future missions, such as Lidar altimeter mission, Wind Lidar mission and new geostationary missions for land observation and GHG observation.