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About GOSAT

GOSAT (Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite)
GOSAT. Copyright: NASA/JAXA

GOSAT (Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite) is an environment-monitoring satellite developed by Japan which launched on 23 January 2009 and remains operational.

It is part of ESA's Third Party Missions Programme, in which ESA has an agreement with JAXA to distribute data products from the mission.

GOSAT Mission Parameters
Orbit Height666 km
Orbit TypeSun-synchronous
Orbit Inclination98°
Repeat Cycle3 days

 

GOSAT Objectives

GOSAT is a JAXA mission within the GCOM (Global Change Observation Mission) programme of Japan designed to monitor the global distribution of carbon dioxide and methane.

 

GOSAT Instruments

Thermal And Near infrared Sensor for carbon Observation - Fourier Transform Spectrometer (TANSO-FTS)

TANSO-FTS measures the scene radiance of solar short wave infrared spectra (SWIR) reflected on Earth's surface.

TANSO-FTS Instrument Parameters
PurposeMeasurements of CH4, CO2, H2O, O2, O3 and aerosol
Orbit TypeSun-synchronous
Short Description4–band interferometer (3 in NIR/SWIR, 1 in TIR)
Scanning TechniqueCross-track mechanical pointing, swath 790 km
Resolution10.5 km at s.s.p.
Coverage/CycleGlobal coverage in 3 days

 

Thermal And Near infrared Sensor for carbon Observation - Cloud and Aerosol Imager (TANSO-CAI)

TANSO-CAI is a radiometer to retrieve clouds and aerosol characteristics for more accurate TANSO-FTS data retrieval.

TANSO-CAI Instrument Parameters
PurposeCloud and aerosol observation
Orbit TypeSun-synchronous
Short Description4-channel UV/VIS/NIR/SWIR radiometer
Scanning TechniquePush-broom, 2000 pixel/line (three VNIR channels),
500 pixels/line
(SWIR channel); 1000 km swath
Resolution0.5 km in UV/VIS/NIR (Channels 1-3)
1.5 km in SWIR (Channel 4)
Coverage/CycleGlobal coverage in 3 days
Swath Width1000 km for UV/VIS/NIR (Channels 1-3),
750 km for SWIR (Channel 4)

 

Non-scientific measuring instruments

A total of eight CAMs are being accommodated at strategic locations on GOSAT with the objective to monitor the spacecraft exterior in orbit.

(Technical Data Acquisition Equipment): TEDA is onboard space environment measurement system with the objective to monitor the orbital radiation environment.

GOSAT Data

DATA DESCRIPTION

ESA offers registered users access through the dedicated FTP server to the following data collection:

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