Launch of Japanese H-IIA Rocket with IGS Spy... by spacevidsnet
A Japanese H-IIA rocket blasted off into Space this evening, February 1st 2015 at 01:21 UTC, 10:21 Local time from the Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan. The rocket placed the IGS spy satellite into orbit, The Japanese Information Gathering Satellite (IGS) is a second generation radar satellite providing redundancy should one of the existing spy assets in orbit fail.
JAXA | Launch of H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 24
The new flagship launch vehicle is aiming to enter the international satellite launch market on a full scale with high competitiveness while being responsible for Japan's space transportation after the 2020s by renovating our current flagship rockets, the H-IIA and H-IIB Launch Vehicles, and by improving usability through launch cost reduction by half and other enhancements.
IGS | Japan Space Policy
This was certainly the message I got around Kasumigaseki in the mid-noughties when it became increasingly apparent that, at least in space, the IGS was overpriced and not very functional. But it seemed that Japan was stuck with it until better alternatives came up. Meanwhile, Melco’s answer was, of course, to ask for more money to improve (repair) the IGS. The numbers of contracts and amounts are quite staggering, because the practice of overcharging was built into the very fabric of Melco’s system, and reading between the lines, it seems that the NEC scandal of 1998, instead of provoking a response to clean up, it did the reverse- Melco adopted increasingly sophisticated systems of cover-up and concealment.
Not good.
Information Gathering Satellites
| Radar | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IGS-1 | Radar-1 | dual | 2003 | 489 km | 500 km | 97.4° | 1,200 kg |
| IGS-4 | Radar-2 | dual | 2007 | 484 km | 491 km | 97.33° | |
| IGS-6 | Radar-3 | single | 2011 | 512 km | 514 km | 97.46° | 4,000 kg ? |
| IGS-8A | Radar-4 | dual | 2013 | 509 km | 514 km | 97.50° | |
Launches of operational second-generation satellites began in November 2009 with the fourth IGS Optical spacecraft; another second-generation optical spacecraft followed in September 2011. The
radar element of the constellation has also entered its second generation, with spacecraft launching in December 2011 and January 2013. The 2013 launch also carried a prototype for the third-generation
optical IGS spacecraft.
Sunday’s payload is a further second-generation radar satellite which will provide the constellation with redundancy in the event that one of the two spacecraft already in orbit malfunctions. The additional satellite was constructed after both first-generation radar satellites failed within four years of launch to guard against such an occurrence with the second-generation spacecraft.
A further IGS launch is expected to occur later this year, with the first third-generation optical imaging satellite. Further launches to replenish and upgrade the constellation are expected to continue in the coming years.
IGS 4B Re-Entry - Spaceflight101
The IGS 4 satellite pair launched in February 2007 and included a third generation optical satellite with a ground resolution of better than one meter, and a second generation SAR spacecraft also achieving a resolution of one meter. The satellites were found in an orbit at 481 to 494 Kilometers that they maintained until 2010. In the summer months of 2010, IGS 4B became non-operational for reasons that were not disclosed. When satellite 4A stopped functioning is unclear, but orbital data suggests a loss of orbit control between mid-2010 to mid-2011.
IGS 5A is another optical satellite of the third generation launched in late 2009. In September 2011, the first fourth generation optical satellite was launched that is believed to achieve image resolutions of about 60 centimeters. The first satellite in the third generation of SAR spacecraft was launched in December 2011. The most recent IGS launch occurred in January 2013 when an H-IIA202 rocket delivered IGS 8A and 8B into an orbit of 513 Kilometers. The 8A satellite is a 3rd generation SAR spacecraft and 8B a 5th generation optical satellite that returns imagery at resolutions of under 50 centimeters. 8A satellite remains in its 513-Kilometer orbit while 8B has entered a lower orbit at an altitude of 425 Kilometers.
IGS-Radar 4 Satellite
With Launch, Japan Begins Rebuilding IGS Spy Satellite Network - SpaceNews.com
The Japanese Defense Agency (JDA) released its white paper on 27 July 1999. The paper said that the Government was working vigorously toward the introduction of Information Gathering Satellites. This satellite will orbit the Earth at an altitude of 400-600km and gather information on the Earth's surface. The launch of four satellites of two types—two with optical sensors and two with synthetic aperture radar (SAR)—is planned. A frequency of more than one observation of any given location by each type of satellite each day will be possible. The proposed system would cost $1.3 billion.
The optical sensors work like cameras in that they collect light from an observed object in a lens and gather information on the object's shape and other features. The Government intends to introduce optical sensors with resolution of 1m. (This is an indicator of sensor performance. In simple terms, a resolution of 1m means that objects of a size of 1m and larger can be recognized.) The SAR hits the Earth's surface with microwaves from the satellite. By observing the reflection, the device obtains information on the shape of the object reflecting the microwaves. This radar can make observations unaffected by the weather or nighttime darkness. The Government intends to introduce SAR with a resolution of 1-3m.
By using imagery data with a resolution of 1m, the Government believes it will be able to detect ballistic missile sites and to distinguish major maritime and air military assets such as warships and
fighting aircraft from commercial ships and aircraft. If, at the time when such a satellite starts being utilized, its functions are deemed to be used commonly, then it will not be considered to be in violation of the aim of the Resolution on the Peaceful Use of Space, even if the SDF also uses it. Therefore, the Defense Agency believes that imagery data from the Information Gathering Satellites will be useful for assuring the security of Japan and looks forward to its commencement with great
anticipation.
The budget for Japan's reconnaissance satellite may be as great as high as 260 billion yen (around US$2.6 billion, including expenses on R&D, launch, land requisition and construction). The research and development is undertaken by Japan's space development work group, with some technologies provided by the United States. The satellites will be LEO birds at orbits of 500 Km, and will make use of large satellite buses that could be partly based on a standard commercial bus or be used as a test bed for Mitsubishi's first commercial bus. After April 2002, H-2A rockets carrying information-gathering satellites and others will be launched, weighing in at 1.5 metric tons are expected to be launched by early 2003.
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