Japan has launched a satellite whose focus will be to observe the concentration distribution of greenhouse gases from space. The launch of the Ibuki satellite (also known by GOSAT – Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite) took place on January 23rd at 03:54 UTC from the LP1 launch platform of the Yoshinubo launch complex on Tanegashima. Ibuki has a approximate mass of 1750 kg. Is equipped with two solar panels that generate 3.8 kW. The satellite will operate for 5 years on a sun-synchronous sub-recurrent orbit with a inclination of 98 degrees.
GOSAT ("Ibuki") satellite – photo courtesy of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries The launch vehicle used was the 202 version of the H-2A rocket, equipped with two solid rocket boosters and with the 4S fairing design (4 meters in diameter). Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. was in charge of the launch service of the H-IIA. According to JAXA, the Ibuki satellite is equipped with a greenhouse gas observation sensor (TANSO-FTS) and a cloud/aerosol sensor (TANSO-CAI) that supplements TANSO-FTS. The greenhouse gas observation sensor of Ibuki observes a wide range of wave lengths (near infrared region — thermal infrared region) within the infrared band to enhance observation accuracy. The number of observation channels is as large as approx 18,500. A cloud/aerosol sensor observes clouds and aerosol that can be a factor leading to errors in the measurement of greenhouse gas in order to improve greenhouse gas observation accuracy.
The satellite will observes infrared rays radiated from the sun and reflected from the ground surface and the spectrum of infrared rays radiated from ground surface or the atmosphere itself. As they pass through a gas, infrared rays are absorbed only by specific colours, which means components with a specific wave length are revealed. Ibuki calculates the concentration of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere utilizing this principle. Ibuki is a cooperative project among JAXA, the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) and the Ministry of the Environment (MOE). JAXA mainly takes charge of development, launching and operation of sensors and satellites. MOE and NIES carries out advanced processing of data and utilizes it.
There were other satellites on board the H-2A, namely the SDS-1 (Small Demonstration Satellite-1), the SOHLA-1 (Space Oriented Higashiosaka Leading Association), the SpriteSAT, the PRISM (Pico-satellite for Remote-sensing and Innovative Space Missions), the KKS-1 (Kouku-Kosen-Satellite-1), the STARS-1 and the Kagayaki (SorunSAT).
SDS-1 satellite, image courtesy of JAXA The SDS-1 satellite was developed by JAXA as part of an effort to improve the reliability of satellites and to verify new technologies at the part, material, or component level in space by using a small satellite to improve technological achievements. The satellite will carry out operational experiments on new technologies in space to apply them for future satellite development. The SDS-1 has a mass of about 100 kg. The SDS-1 carries three equipments: the Space Wire Demonstrations Module, the Multi-mode Transponder, and the Advanced Microprocessor In-Orbit Experiment Equipment.
SOHLA-1 satellite (image courtesy of JAXA) The SOHLA-1 satellite is a technical demo satellite developed by local small and medium-sized enterprises with technical support of JAXA and Osaka Prefecture University. The main objective of SOHLA-1 is to acquire and to accumulate various technologies for small satellite development. Another mission of SOHLA-1 is on-orbit demonstration of several new technologies, such as the VHF lightning impulse measurement. The satellite has a mass of 50 kg and is expected mission duration if of 1 year.
Sprite-SAT satellite, image courtesy Tohoku University Sprite-SAT is a micro satellite in the size of 50 cm cube and weighing less than 50-kg. The satellite was developed by the Tohoku University and will conduct scientific observation of atmospheric luminous emissions called “sprites”.
PRISM satellite, image courtesy of University of Tokyo The PRISM satellite is to serve as a first attempt at applying nano-satellites to practical missions. The mission of PRISMs is to conduct technical experiments on Ground Image Acquisition using a refracted optical system with an extensible boom (expected resolution of 10 m to 30 m), to conduct technical experiments and demonstrate a nano-satellite bus using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) parts, and to perform various services and experiments for the amateur radio community. The small satellite has a mass of 5 kg.
The KKS-1 is a small 3 kg, educational technology satellite built by the Tokyo Metropolitan College of Industrial Technology. The satellite will demonstrate experiments on micro-thrusters, will conduct basic experiments on 3-axis attitude control and is going to take land images with a small camera.
KKS-1 satellite, image courtesy of Tokyo Metropolitan College of Industrial Technology The STARS-1 satellite consists of a Mother Satellite and a Daughter Satellite, connected by a tether. The Mother Satellite deploys the tether having the Daughter Satellite at its end. Daughter Satellite has one arm, and the tether is attached at its end. Then attitude control by arm motion using tether tension is possible. The main mission is to take pictures of a satellite during tether deployment. In this mission, the Mother Satellite deploys a tether with Daughter Satellite at its end. The Daughter Satellite controls the attitude of the CCD camera by robotic motion. The Mother Satellite and Daughter Satellite communicate through Bluetooth. The Daughter Satellite will take pictures of the Mother Satellite, and transmitters these to ground stations through amateur radio frequency.
The Kagayaki satellite is a small satellite to demo different technologies and to invite handicapped children to the launch site and carry their messages. Kagayaki will demonstrate technologies to perform an autonomous control system, to perform an inflatable progress boom. to detect space debris and to observe aurora.
(Source: NASA Spaceflight.com, Rui C. Barbosa)
