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Japan Aerospace Exploration AgencyLaunch SuccessfulEarth ScienceH-IIA 2022
Launched 2006-01-24 01:33 UTCYoshinobu Launch Complex LP-1, Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
Success
Reached Sun-Synchronous Orbit
Worldwide
2nd
orbital launch attempt in 2006
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
1st
launch this year
Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-1
1st
launch from this pad this year
Pad turnaround
331 d 16 h
since the pad's previous launch
ALOS (Advanced Land Observation Satellite) is used for cartography, regional observation, disaster monitoring, and resource surveying.
ALOS has three remote-sensing instruments:
- the Panchromatic Remote-sensing Instrument for Stereo Mapping (PRISM) for digital elevation mapping with 2.5 meter resolution, - the Advanced Visible and Near Infrared Radiometer type 2 (AVNIR-2) for precise land coverage observation with 10 meter resolution, and - the Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) for day-and-night and all-weather land observation.
ALOS transmitts its data via the DRTS (Kodama) satellite.
The ALOS was launched by an H-2A-2022 launch vehicle from the Tanegashima Space Center. ALOS as been given the nickname Daichi.
Five minutes after spacecraft separation, ALOS began to unfurl its 72-foot solar array that will provide electrical power to the craft throughout its mission. Six cameras are on-board to visually verify the correct deployment of the solar panel and various instrument antennas.
ALOS lost all power on 22. April 2011, thus ending the mission.
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
Height
53m
Diameter
4m
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ETS-9Mitsubishi Heavy Industries · H3-22 · Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-2, Tanegashima Space Center, JapanGeostationary Transfer OrbitTo be determinedNET 2026
IGS Optical Diversification 1Mitsubishi Heavy Industries · H3-30 · Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-2, Tanegashima Space Center, JapanSun-Synchronous OrbitTo be determinedTime TBD