Japan or JAXA will be attempting to launch H3 rocket in Type-22 configuration carrying Advanced Land Observing Satellite-4 “DAICHI-4” or ALOS-4 satellite for the 1st operational flight of h3 rocket
Join this channel to support me & get access to perks:
/ @rocketgyan
You can also support me on Patreon - / rocketgyan
Follow me on Twitter - / rocketgyan
The live coverage of the launch of Advanced Land Observing Satellite-4 “DAICHI-4” (ALOS-4) aboard the third H3 Launch V
Launch Window : 12:06:42 (JST) through 12:19:34 (JST)
Launch site : JAXA Tanegashima Space Center
The Advanced Land Observing Satellite-4 (ALOS-4) is a satellite to observe the Earth's surface using its onboard phased array type L-band synthetic aperture radar (PALSAR-3). The L-band radar technology has continuously been developed in Japan. With further improved observation performance compared to the predecessor PALSAR-2 aboard the DAICHI-2 (ALOS-2), JAXA and its prime contractor, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, are developing the satellite aiming at achieving both high resolution and a broader observation swath.
Unlike observations by an optical sensor, radar images can be acquired day and night as it does not require sunlight. Moreover, since radio waves can penetrate cloud, the images can be obtained regardless of weather condition. The ALOS-4 will leverage these merits for observing and monitoring disaster-hit areas, forests, and sea ice. In addition, it will also challenge new areas such as monitoring infrastructure displacement.
The ALOS-4 will be equipped with the Automatic Identification System for ships (AIS) receiver, as was DAICHI-2, so that the satellite will also monitor oceans by receiving AIS signals from vessels as well as by acquiring the PALSAR-3 images. The SPace based AIS Experiment (SPAISE3) is a high performance satellite AIS. Effective countermeasures against radio wave interference regions are taken for the SPAISE3 with multiple antennas and groundbased data processing; therefore, the detection success rate of a ship in the heavy marine traffic areas will be improved compared to DAICHI-2. SPAISE3 development is JAXA's ongoing project in cooperation with NEC Corporation.
The H3 Launch Vehicle is a Japanese expendable launch system. H3 launch vehicles are liquid-propellant rockets with strap-on solid rocket boosters and are launched from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and JAXA are responsible for the design, manufacture, and operation of the H3. The H3 is the world's first rocket to use an expander bleed cycle for the first stage engine
The H3 Launch Vehicle is a two-stage launch vehicle. The first stage uses liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen as propellants and carries zero, two or four strap-on solid rocket boosters (SRBs) (derived from SRB-A) using polybutadiene fuel. The first stage is powered by two or three LE-9 engines which uses an expander bleed cycle design similar to the LE-5B engine. The fuel and oxidizer mass of the first stage is 225 metric tons. The second stage is powered by a single engine which is an improved LE-5B. The propellant mass of the second stage is 23 metric tons.