The Full Picture

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After the verification of its accuracy, GOSAT will

finally start its assigned mission to acquire data.

Besides GOSAT, there is another greenhouse gas

observation satellite in plan, the Orbiting Carbon

Observatory (OCO), from NASA/JPL in the United

States. It is scheduled to be launched in 2008, to

simply monitor CO

Having similar objectives, OCO and GOSAT share

similar technological issues, and as such, some coop-

erative projects are being planed. For example, OCO

and GOSAT instrument data will be exchanged and

calibrated for their accuracy prior to launch, to assign

common observation standards. JAXA and NASA are

also considering possibilities for comparing post-

launch data and conduct calibration experiments

together as well as discussing shared data utilization.

A similar type of cooperation is also in development

with Europe, where JAXA is planning to provide

European scientists with GOSAT data via the European

Space Agency (ESA).

International cooperation is essential, especially for

Earth observation satellites. When monitoring the

Earth from space, not just Japan but the entire planet

is automatically covered. In that sense, JAXA would

ask worldwide organizations to make great use of

GOSAT data, and requests feedback from users to help

improve observation performance.

in reality, there are no standardized means to measure greenhouse

gas emissions, and the amount of emissions reported is based on

self-declaration. The amount is calculated based on assumptions

about such as the volume of the countries’ oil consumption, car –

driving distances and industrial gas emissions. Therefore if GOSAT

observation makes it possible to estimate greenhouse gas emission

per continent or large country, GOSAT observation data would be

utilized as a means of verification.

The last mission objective is to develop and establish advanced

technologies essential for precise greenhouse gas observations.

GOSAT is a joint project by the Japan Aerospace Exploration

Agency (JAXA), which is responsible for the satellite and sensors

development; Japan’s Ministry of the Environment (MOE), and

the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES). MOE

and NIES are in charge of data utilization.

Utilizing the JAXA acquired data

NIES is responsible for analyzing the global distribution of CO

and methane concentration, and the regional volume of absorp-

tion and emissions. It may take some time before preparing the

data for distribution; however, free-of-charge GOSAT global obser-

vation data will be distributed for scientific use within a year of the

launch.

GOSAT is scheduled to be launched in 2008 by the H-IIA launch

vehicle. During the first three months all functions of the satellite

will be tested. Then in the following three months, data will be

collected intensively and compared with ground observation data.

Top left: Thermal and Near Infrared Sensor for Carbon Observation – Fourier Transform Spectrometer (TANSO-FTS) Engineering Model. Bottom left: Thermal

and Near Infrared Sensor for Carbon Observation – Cloud and Aerosol imager (TANSO-CAI) Engineering Model. Right: Structure and thermal model

Photo: JAXA

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