The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed that the solar array paddles deployment was successfully performed by receiving telemetry from the Global Observing SATellite for Greenhouse gases and Water cycle “IBUKI GW” (GOSAT-GW).The following are images of “IBUKI GW” (GOSAT-GW) solar array paddles received at the Santiago Station in Chile on June 29, 2025 at 2:25(JST).
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is carefully proceeding the analysis and evaluation of various telemetry data obtained from the Global Observing SATellite for Greenhouse gases and Water cycle “IBUKI GW” (GOSAT-GW), as well as verification of its functions. Based on the results of these functional checks, we are reviewing the operational plan as appropriate and have updated it to postpone the AMSR3*1 antenna deployment*2 by approximately one day.The condition of “IBUKI GW,” including AMSR3, is nominal.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed that the AMSR3*1 antenna deployment*2 was successfully performed by receiving telemetry from the Global Observing SATellite for Greenhouse gases and Water cycle “IBUKI GW” (GOSAT-GW). The following is actual photo of the AMSR3 antenna received at the Kiruna Station in Sweden on June 30 2025 at 14:57 (JST).
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed that the AMSR3 initial run-up*1 was successfully performed by receiving telemetry from the Global Observing SATellite for Greenhouse gases and Water cycle “IBUKI GW” (GOSAT-GW).The following are images of the initial run-up received at the Kiruna Station in Sweden on June 30 2025 at 19:45 (JST).
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully confirmed the critical operations phase*1 of the Global Observing SATellite for Greenhouse gases and Water cycle "IBUKI GW" (GOSAT-GW). JAXA received telemetry data confirming that the deployment of the solar array paddles and a series of operations for mission payloads (the antenna deployment and the initial run-up of AMSR3*2 and release of the pointing mirror lock for TANSO-3*3 *4), have been completed, and that the satellite is in a stable condition to remain in orbit. With this confirmation, the critical operations phase was completed. "IBUKI GW" (GOSAT-GW) will move on to the initial functional verification operations phase*5, to verify the functions of the onboard instruments over a period of approximately three months. JAXA conveys a deep appreciation for the cooperation and support of everyone involved in the launch and tracking and control of "IBUKI GW" (GOSAT-GW), including the government agencies, the prime contractor, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, and all the companies and organizations involved in the development, manufacture and operation of the satellite.
The Greenhouse Gases and Water Cycle Observing Satellite "IBUKI-GW" (GOSAT-GW) *1, jointly developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the Ministry of the Environment, and the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), was launched on June 29, 2025, and is currently undergoing initial functional verification operations *2 . From July 14 to 20, the first observations were made by the Greenhouse Gases Observing Sensor-3 ( TANSO -3), one of the sensors onboard the satellite, *3 and it was confirmed that TANSO-3 was operating normally.
The Global Observing SATellite for Greenhouse gases and Water cycle “IBUKI GW” (GOSAT-GW)*1 was successfully launched on June 29, 2025 (Japan Standard Time) and entered its nominal operational orbit on July 20. Antenna of the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 3 (AMSR3)*2, which is one of mission payloads, was set to rotate at a speed of 40 revolutions per minute to ensure stable observations, and AMSR3 started collecting observation data*3 as part of the satellite’s initial functional verification operations activity*4 since August 11. The Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR) series is a sensor to observe weak microwaves naturally emitted and/or scattered from the land and ocean surfaces and in the atmosphere. Since it can estimate various water-related geophysical parameters, including sea surface temperature and precipitation, its observation data contributes to wide areas, which are operational utilization for weather forecasting, fisheries, safe ship navigation, etc., as well as monitoring of global water cycle variation and climate change. AMSR3 succeeds continuous observations by AMSR-E on board the US Aqua satellite, launched in 2002, and AMSR2 on board the GCOM-W satellite, launched in 2012, and has additional five new channels (see Figure 1, to be more precise, 10.3 GHz Vertical Polarization (V-Pol.) and Horizontal Polarization (H-Pol.)*5, and V-Pol. of 165.5, 183.3±7 and 183.3±3 GHz). Previous microwave radiometers including AMSR2 have difficulty in observing snowfall in high-latitudes, however, observation channels of 165.5 to 183.3 GHz newly added to AMSR3 enables to estimate complete view of global precipitation (both rain and snow) including high-latitudes in detail. Furthermore, those channels can also provide water vapor profile information, which is important for weather forecasting. This is expected to contribute to improving the forecast accuracy of heavy rainfall and extent, track and intensity changes of tropical cyclones. Also, additional observation channels in 10 GHz with improved temperature resolution and reduced noises help to produce robust sea surface temperature, which is utilized in fisheries, in higher spatial resolution.
