MISSIONS

GCOM-W1: Global Change Observation Mission 1st - Water

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May 19, 2012 Updated

SHIZUKU critical phase completed!

The Global Change Observation Mission 1st - Water "SHIZUKU", which was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center on May 18, completed its critical operations as it was successfully inserted into the initial orbit and finished the AMSR2 run-up and other essential events normally. JAXA will take about 45 days to insert the satellite into the "A-Train orbit" in order to participate in an Earth observation mission called the "A-Train" in cooperation with satellites of other countries while performing the initial functional confirmation for about three months.

May 18, 2012 Updated

SHIZUKU's AMSR2 antenna successfully deployed

The Global Change Observation Mission 1st - Water "SHIZUKU" successfully deployed its onboard Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR), and the scene was shot by an onboard camera. The AMSR2 measures electromagnetic waves called microwaves emitted from nature such as the ground and ocean surface. It is an important sensor that observes water such as precipitation, vapor volume and the depth of snow.

May 18, 2012 Updated

SHIZUKU: Successful solar array paddle deployment and initial orbit insertion

The Global Change Observation Mission 1st - Water "SHIZUKU" captured its successful solar array paddle deployment by an onboard camera over Australia. After SHIZUKU's orbit calculation, JAXA confirmed that the satellite was injected into the scheduled initial orbit. The SHIZUKU will deploy its onboard Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR).

May 18, 2012 Updated

Successful launch of H-IIA F 21 with SHIZUKU and SDS-4 aboard!

The launch of the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 21 with The Global Change Observation Satellite 1st - Water "SHIZUKU" and Small Demonstration Satellite-4 (SDS-4) aboard was successfully performed at 1:39 a.m. on May 18 (Fri.) 2012 (Japan Standard Time). The launch vehicle flew normally and separated the SHIZUKU at about 22 minutes and 59 seconds after liftoff. Then, the Small Demonstration Stellite-4 (SDS-4) was also confirmed to be successfully separated as scheduled. The SHIZUKU will conduct critical phase operations including deploying the AMSR2 antenna. We await your support messages!

May 14, 2012 Updated

SHIZUKU Launch Live broadcast to start at 1:10 a.m. on May 18!

The Global Change Observation Mission 1st-Water “SHIZUKU” will be launched this weekend, at 1:39 a.m. on May 18 (Fri.) from the Tanegashima Space Center. JAXA will broadcast the live launch report from around 1:10 a.m. on May 18. You can watch it through some cable TV stations or websites, and via cell phones and smart phones. Please watch the SHIZUKU launch with us in real time!

May 1, 2012 Updated

SHIZUKU mated with the Payload Attach Fitting

On April 26, the Global Change observation Mission 1st-Water "SHIZUKU" was mounted onto the payload adapter called the "Payload Attach Fitting," or PAF, at the Spacecraft and Fairing Assembly Building at the Tanegashima Space Center. The PAF is a connection part between the satellite and the launch vehicle. The launch site operations are smoothly in progress, and the SHIZUKU will be covered by the fairing and loaded onto the launch vehicle.

April 4, 2012 Updated

SHIZUKU revealed to the media at TNSC

On April 4, the media was invited to have a look at the Global Change Observation Mission 1st-Water “SHIZUKU” at the Tanegashima Space Center.
The SHIZUKU (GCOM-W1) is installed with the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) to observe precipitation, vapor amounts, wind velocity above the ocean, sea water temperature, water levels on land areas, ocean ice area, and snow depths. The data acquired by the SHIZUKU is expected to be utilized for various fields including research on global environmental changes, weather forecasts, and fisheries.
The satellite will soon be in final launch preparation operations to be ready for its launch on May 18.

March 21, 2012 Updated

Launch date set for SHIZUKU & SDS-4 on H-IIA F21! Special site now available!

The launch date and time for the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 21 (H-IIA F21) with the Global Change Observation Mission 1st - Water "SHIZUKU" (GCOM-W1) onboard was decided to be at around 1:39 a.m. on May 18 (Fri.,) 2012. The Small Demonstration Satellite-4 (SDS-4) will also be launched by the H-IIA F21 as a secondary payload.
We opened a special site for the SHIZUKU, which is slated for launch in May. We will publish columns by project team members. Please have a look.

January 12, 2012 Updated

SHIZUKU revealed to the media

On Jan. 10, the media was invited to have a look at the Global Change Observation Mission 1st- Water “SHIZUKU” at the Tsukuba Space Center.
The satellite will be in the final launch preparation operations to be ready for its trip to space in Japan Fiscal Year 2012.

September 21, 2011 Updated

'Shizuku' selected as nickname for Global Change Observation Mission 1st– Water (GCOM-W1)

JAXA conducted a nickname contest for about two months for the Global Change Observation Mission 1st – Water (GCOM-W1) satellite, and we received 20,998 applications. Among them, "Shizuku" (meaning a "drop"or a "dew") which was suggested by the largest number of people was selected. The typical reasoning for picking "Shizuku" was that the satellite will observe water circulation, which originated from a "drop" of water that becomes rain, then runs into the ocean, and ultimately evaporates in the air and becomes ice. This explanation gained high points during the selection process as it precisely illustrates the GCOM-W1 mission. JAXA will send a certificate and commemorative present to all of you who proposed the name "Shizuku."
Thank you very much to so many people who join the contest. Please keep your eye on the GCOM-W1 project.

February 7, 2011 Updated

Global Change Observation Mission 3rd Research Announcement

JAXA is announcing the third research announcement (RA), which is the opportunity to conduct algorithm development, validation, and application research for the first satellite of the GCOM-W (Water) series, GCOM-W1, as well as multi-sensor research mainly using data from GCOM-W1.
In this RA, JAXA solicits 3-year research proposals beginning from Japanese fiscal year 2011, for GCOM-W1 algorithm development, validation, and application research, as well as multi-sensor research mainly using data from GCOM-W1. JAXA will give priority to the areas of GCOM-W1 algorithm development and validation.
The deadline for submitting proposals is March 25, 2011.

January 21, 2011 Updated

GCOM-W1: Sinusoidal vibration test of the protoflight model

JAXA conducted a sinusoidal vibration test of the GCOM-W1 protoflight model at the Tsukuba Space Center.
GCOM-W1 satellite will be launched by H-IIA Launch Vehicle. Since a payload of a launch vehicle will experience severe vibrations due to engine combustion during its ascent, the satellite must be verified to withstand such vibration environment through a vibration test on the ground. During the test, the satellite was set on a table called a shaker table as you can see in the photo, and all the onboard devices were set in the same condition as that for the actual launch. Vibrations were generated through the shaker on the left of the table. All of the satellite devices were verified to work properly during vibration test of three axis directions and no abnormality was found on the satellite structure.

November 26, 2010 Updated

EMC test by the protoflight model

The Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) on-board Global Change Observation Mission 1st - Water (GCOM-W1) will observe minute radio waves from the Earth. In order to verify that no other onboard electronic devices negatively affect AMSR2 function inside the?satellite when they are actually turned on, the electormagnetic?compatibility test was conducted at the Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC.)
For the test, we placed the satellite in an environment that was very similar to the on-orbit situation, and emitted radio waves to communicate with the ground facilities. We were able to confirm that the satellite properly operated without impacting the AMSR2 observation data.

August 10, 2010 Updated

AMSR2 protoflight model antenna rotation test

An antenna rotation test using a protoflight model (PFM) of the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) was held at the Tsukuba Space Center. The AMSR2 will be loaded onto the GCOM-W1. The AMSR2's sensor unit rotates 40 times a minute in space, and it observes a swath of about 1,450 km on the ground surface per rotation. We had some limitations in simulating the impact of air resistance and the zero-gravity environment of space due to simulator restrictions for the ground test, thus the rotation speed was reduced to one tenth. Through the test, the rotation was verified to be normal.

August 4, 2010 Updated

AMSR2 protoflight model antenna deployment test

An antenna deployment test using a protoflight model of the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) was held at the Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC.) The AMSR2 will be loaded onto the GCOM-W1. The antenna will be stowed when the GCOM-W1 is launched, and about 11 hours after the launch, bolts will be cut by pyrotechnics and the antenna will be deployed by a spring attached to the joint part of the strut. During the test, the impact caused by the antenna deployment was proved to be less than the specified level. We also confirmed that the deployment was successfully performed under the circumstance which simulates zero gravity in space.

March 10, 2010 Updated

Symposium of "Expectations to the Climate Change Monitoring using Earth Observation Satellites"

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is holding a symposium titled "Expectations for Climate Change Monitoring using Earth Observation Satellites" on April 15, (Thursday) 2010, at the Hotel Pacific Tokyo.
Earth observation satellites have been playing an important role in monitoring climate change, and international cooperation is imperative for global-scale monitoring as a multiple number of satellites and various kinds of onboard observation sensors are required to cover the globe. JAXA has been planning to fulfill its international responsibilities for its satellites including the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite "IBUKI" (GOSAT) and the Global Changing Observation Mission (GCOM).
At the symposium, representatives of space and meteorological organizations from all over the world will introduce their climate change monitoring initiatives by earth observation satellites, then explain how their activities have been promoted through international cooperation. We will also discuss future prospects for international collaboration. We are looking forward to your participation.

December 3, 2008 Updated

Global Change Observation Mission (GCOM) Symposium

At this symposium, JAXA and the organizations concerned report a background, a purpose, and a role of the GCOM plan, and the present status of the climate change research by the satellite observation. JAXA holds this symposium so that participants can understand the GCOM plan and the global environment issues.

Date:
January 13, 2009 (Tue) 10:00-15:00

Place:
Ambassador's Ball Room, Pan Pacific Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu

October 2, 2008 Updated

GCOM-W1 Sinusoidal Vibration Test

The GCOM project team performed the Sinusoidal Vibration Test on the GCOM-W1 structural model. The test aimed at verifying if the satellite's structural materials and its onboard equipment could withstand sinusoidal vibrations by simulating rocket launch vibrations.

The test was completed without any problems, and all functions and the performance were confirmed to be normal.

The structural model is for design verification to confirm if the satellite and its onboard equipment are strong enough for a space trip by exposing them under the simulated launch vibration and acoustic environment, as well as under simulated shocks at the time of atellite separation from the launch vehicle and solar array paddle deployment.

August 4, 2008 Updated

Thermal Vacuum Test with solar light was performed on Engineering Model of the high-temperature noise source (HTS) for the AMSR2

A Thermal Vacuum Test using solar light on the Engineering Model of the HTS for the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) to be aboard the Global Change Observation Mission 1st - Water (GCOM-W1) was performed in the 8M Chamber Building at Tsukuba Space Center from July 30 to August 4, 2008. This test was to check if the sensor works normally after it was exposed to the constant solar light by placing a model of the sensor to be aboard the satellite in a chamber simulating the space environment.

Photo: The EM of the HTS for the AMSR2 during the Thermal Vacuum Test

January 21, 2008 Updated

Global Change Observation Mission 1st Research Announcement

As the first step in a series of the Global Change Observation Mission (GCOM) research announcements (RAs), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announces the opportunity to conduct research activities directly related to retrieval algorithms for geophysical products, product validation, and data application of GCOM-W1. Participation in this RA is open to all categories of domestic and foreign organizations including educational institutions (except for students), industries, non-profit institutions and Japanese Government agencies.