H-IIA Update: Eyes for Watching the Earth: Observation Sensors – 26 days before a launch

Between Nov. 15 through 17, NASDA was checking the electrical and propulsion
systems of H-IIA Launch Vehicle No.4 (H-IIA F4) at the Vehicle Assembly
Building (VAB). Electric circuits, propellant tanks and their tubing are
carefully inspected. Also, the propulsion systems are under scrutiny for
making sure that no leakage occurs.

Among the onboard sensors of the Advanced Earth Observing Satellite-II
(ADEOS-II), two sensors are developed by NASDA. They are Global Imager (GLI)
and Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR).

AMSR will observe water related phenomena such as water vapor volume and sea
surface temperature by acquiring microwaves generated on the earth surface
or in the atmosphere. Unlike optical observation, the method by microwaves
is possible to be performed both day and night. The antenna for acquiring
microwaves is the world largest, 2 meter antenna.

GLI will observe chlorophyll concentration and vegetation, cloud, and ice
distribution by acquiring reflected solar and infrared radiation from the
earth surface, both land and ocean. GLI is a successor of the Ocean Color
and Temperature Scanner(OCTS) of the first Advanced Earth Observing
Satellite, Midori, which was launched in 1996, but GLI can observe not only
ocean but also land.