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Japan Aerospace Exploration AgencyLaunch SuccessfulEarth ScienceH-IIA 202 · Ibuki GW
Launched 2025-06-28 16:33:03 UTCYoshinobu Launch Complex LP-1, Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
Success
Reached Sun-Synchronous Orbit
Worldwide
145th
orbital launch attempt in 2025
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
1st
launch this year
Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-1
1st
launch from this pad this year
Pad turnaround
275 d 11 h
since the pad's previous launch
GOSAT-GW (Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite Greenhouse gases and Water cycle), also known as Ibuki GW and formerly known as GOSAT 3, is JAXA's next generation satellite to monitor the greenhosue gases like carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere. It is the follow on to the GOSAT 2 (Ibuki 2) and GCOM-W (Shizuku) missions.
GOSAT-GW will have two missions: greenhouse gases observation for Japan's Ministry of the Environment and the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), and water-cycle observation for JAXA. By developing the GOSAT-GW satellite, Mitsubishi Electric will contribute to measures for preventing disasters attributed to global warming and climate change, and to advance scientific and technological methods that enable more accurate prediction of climate change.
In December 2013, Mitsubishi Electric (MELCO) was selected as the prime contractor for the spacecraft and the instruments.
Launch Provider
Government · Japan · Founded 2003 · Administrator Hiroshi Yamakawa
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is Japan's national aero-space agency. Through the merger of three previously independent organizations, JAXA was formed on 1 October 2003. JAXA is responsible for research, technology development and the launch of satellites into orbit, and is involved in many more advanced missions, such as asteroid exploration and possible manned exploration of the Moon. JAXA launch their Epsilon vehicle from the Uchinoura Space Center and their H-II vehicles from the Tanegashima Space Center.
Launches
37
Successful
33
89%
Upcoming
2
scheduled
·
Launch success.
Cosmic_Penguin
·
Spacecraft separation.
Cosmic_Penguin
·
Liftoff.
Cosmic_Penguin
·
Rescheduled for June 28 UTC.
Cosmic_Penguin
·
Launch delayed due to 2nd stage electrical system problem; new launch date TBD.
Cosmic_Penguin
·
GO for launch.
Cosmic_Penguin
·
NET June 23 UTC/early morning June 24 JST.
Cosmic_Penguin
·
NET June 2025.
Cosmic_Penguin
·
NET Q2 due to satellite testing delays.
Cosmic_Penguin
·
Tweaked approximate launch date per launch manifest (P.129 of source).
Cosmic_Penguin
Height
53m
Diameter
4m
To low Earth orbit
10,000kg
Liftoff thrust
2,260kN
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