"Aqua" Earth Observation Satellite

In Operation

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October 4, 2011 Updated

AMSR-E observation halted

JAXA has been operating the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-EOS (AMSR-E) for over nine years (despite a design life of three years) as an onboard device installed in the American earth observation satellite Aqua, after its launch on May 4, 2002. It has been contributing accuracy improvement of weather forecasts, compiling ocean condition information for fishing, and understanding the impact of global warming in the field of water circulation and climate change.
Since the end of August, 2011, however, the continuous increase of relatively large antenna rotation friction was detected, thus JAXA has been monitoring the condition. At 3:58 p.m. on October 4, 2011 (Japan Standard Time,) the AMSR-E automatically halted its observations and antenna rotation.
JAXA will continue to analyze this problem, and take necessary measures. We will also launch the successor to the AMSR-E, the Global Change Observation Mission 1st- Water “SHIZUKU" (GCOM-W1.)

Overview

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An Earth-observation satellite to contribute to the understanding of the Earth's water cycle

qua is an American Earth-observation satellite that, as its name suggests, monitors from space various kinds of physical phenomena related to water and energy circulation. It conducts comprehensive observations of the interactions among the atmosphere, the oceans and the continents, and their effects on changes in the Earth's mechanism. Data gathered by this satellite include profiles of atmospheric temperature and humidity, clouds and precipitation, net radiation, snow and sea ice, sea-surface temperature, oceanic primary production, and soil water. These accumulated data are expected to be used to promote the further development of research on global environmental change, as well as to improve numeric weather forecasts.
Aqua was developed as a joint project by the United States, Japan and Brazil. It was launched from the Vandenberg Firing Range in California by the DELTA II launch vehicle in May, 2002. NASA was responsible for the spacecraft and its launch, while Japan and Brazil were in charge of various sensors. JAXA developed a radio sensor and the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR-E), which is helping obtain data to understand global-scale water and energy cycles.


AMSR-E is a sensor that can monitor the Earth day and night.

The antenna of AMSR-E has the largest-diameter microwave scanning radiometer (about 1.6 meters), and it can collect water data with an unprecedentedly high definition. AMSR-E uses microwaves instead of optical sensors, and thus can continue observation day and night, regardless of the weather, and without being interrupted by clouds. AMSR-E has demonstrated the usefulness and viability of microwave-based observation of the Earth's land and sea-surface under clouds.
The data obtained will be provided to the Japan Meteorological Agency and the Japan Fisheries Information Center. They are expected to improve the accuracy of weather forecasting and to provide other practical benefits.


Major Characteristics

International Designation Code 2002-022A
Launch Date May 4,2002
Launch Vehicle Delta 2
Location Vandenberg Launch Site in California, U.S.A.
Shape A box shape with a deployable solar array
Weight Approx. 3,100kg
Orbiter Sun synchronous, near-polar orbit
Altitude Approx. 705 km
Inclination Approx. 98 degrees
Period Approx. 99 minutes
Attitude Control Three-axis stabilization (Zero momentum)