H-2A (F-19) - IGS (Optical-4) - September 23, 2011

[Salo]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/sci/2011-09/23/c_131155899.htm

[input~2]

JAXA press release (in Japanese) announcing launch success for Optical-4 satellite at 13:36 JST.
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2011/09/20110923_h2af19_j.html

[input~2]

Short article:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/09/japanese-h-2a-launches-new-igs-military-satellite/

No specific details were released on this latest IGS satellite, known  only as Optical-4, although unconfirmed reports claim it was  successfully separated after its ride uphill on the H-2A.

The JAXA release confirms separation of the IGS satellite.

[input~2]

[input~2]

Short article:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/09/japanese-h-2a-launches-new-igs-military-satellite/

A third optical satellite – IGS 4A – and a second radar satellite – IGS  4B – were then launched on 24 February 2007. IGS 4A is classed as a  advanced and experimental optical satellite, based on the Synthetic  Aperture Radar (SAR) technology.

AFAIU, a SAR antenna is used on Radar satellites not on optical satellites, which typically use telescopes.

Also, according to the Japanese Wikipedia page on IGS (different from the English version !):
IGS-4A was "Radar-2" not an optical satellite while IGS-4B was Optical-3-Demo, not a radar satellite.
IGS-5A launched on Nov 28, 2009 was Optical-3.
AFAIU, the "Optical-4" launched this morning would correspond to "IGS-6A"

[input~2]

Two objects have now been catalogued by Stratcom, 11050A/37813 & 11050B/37814, albeit without public orbital elements

[input~2]

Yomiuri online quotes "about 60 cm" for the maximum resolution of "Optical-4", the same as Optical-3.
According to the article a radar satellite is scheduled to be launched this year, and another one next year
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/science/news/20110923-OYT1T00346.htm

[Salo]

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110923x2.html

[robertross]

Thanks Rui & Fuji for the launch coverage (since I was sleeping  )
And for the updates from our other friends.

Congrats to the teams for a successful launch & deploy!

[input~2]

According to Stratcom,Object A (presumably Optical-4) is in the following orbit:
589km x 590km x 97.69° Period 96.47 minutes
Object B (which could be the H-2A second stage) is in the following orbit:
564km x 591km x 97.65° Period 96.23 minutes

[Galactic Penguin SST]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/aZTLJgM0nYc&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/aZTLJgM0nYc&rel=1</a>

[yg1968]

See also here:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/UnivNQfORms&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/UnivNQfORms&rel=1</a>

[yoichi]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/KgqVFq4QQPw&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/KgqVFq4QQPw&rel=1</a>

[input~2]

According to Stratcom,Object A (presumably Optical-4) is in the following orbit:
589km x 590km x 97.69° Period 96.47 minutes
Object B (which could be the H-2A second stage) is in the following orbit:
564km x 591km x 97.65° Period 96.23 minutes

Now:

Object A is IGS-6A (no orbital data)

Object B is H-2A 2nd stage in 563 x 589 km x 97.65° Period 96.18 minutes

Object C & Object D are indicated as H-2A debris (Radar Cross Sections of 0.003)

[pargoo]

     Do we have a better launch pic than the one above?  I'm not talking hi-res - fat chance! - just...better.  The JAXA site has nothing about F19, as far as I can tell.