Takhasi Hamazaki 
  
KEY TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT FOR THE ADVENACED LAND OBSERVING SATELLITE 
Takashi HAMAZAKI, and Yuji OSAWA 
National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) 
hamazaki.takashi@nasda.go.jp 
ji.osawa@nasda.g 
KEW WORDS: Remote Sensing, Satellite, High-resolution Imagery, Cartography, Disaster monitoring, Three-line 
sensor, ALOS, PRISM, AVNIR-2, PALSAR 
ABSTRACT: 
This paper introduces the outline of key technology that is under development for the Advanced Land Observing 
Satellite (ALOS). Overview of mission objectives, sensors, and satellite system is also provided. 
1 INTRODUCTION 
1.1 Japanese Earth Observation Satellite Program 
Japanese Earth Observation Satellites are divided into two categories: land observation satellite series and atmospheric 
and oceanic observation satellite series. Land observation satellite series, such as the ALOS, is mainly for practical 
use and high-resolution observation is one of the most important characteristics. On the other hand, atmospheric and 
oceanic observation satellite series, such as the ADEOS-II, is mainly for scientific use and characterized by multi- 
channel observation. History of Japanese Earth observation program is shown in Fig.1. Japan's Earth observation 
satellite program began with the Marine Observation Satellite (MOS-1) in February 1987. The MOS-1 was followed 
by the MOS-1b in February 1989 and the Japanese Earth Resources Satellite (JERS-1) in February 1992. JERS-1 has 
18m resolution optical sensor and 18m resolution L-band (1.2GHz) synthetic aperture radar on-board. The Advanced 
Earth Observing Satellite (ADEOS) was launched in August 1996; however, operation was terminated by a solar array 
failure in June 1997. It marked a significant increase in capability and provided 8m resolution panchromatic and 16m 
resolution multi-spectral optical image in addition to six scientific sensor’s data. 
The Advanced Earth Observing Satellite II (ADEOS-II) will be launched in November 2001. The resolution of the 
ADEOS-II sensors is limited up to 250m because it focuses on global environmental change and multi-channel 
observation has a higher priority than high-resolution observation. The ALOS is planned for launch in August 2002. 
  
CY 187 | Ly Lf ry 
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
MOS-1, MOS-Ib JERS-1 
  
      
  
  
  
  
  
(Visible and MESSR [TT | VNIR AVNIR PRISM 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Near IR Res.50m Res sm Res. 8m Res.2.5m 
Land 
Observation SWIR AVNIR-2 
Res.18m Res.10m 
: SAR PALSAR 
Synthetic N : 
> Aperture Radar Res. 18m Res. 10m 
[ VTIR OCTS GLI 
Atmospheric | Visible, NearlR, gon I2bands — [T] 34 Bands 
& Oceanic Thermal IR Res.800m Res.250n 
Observation ; MSR AMSR 
Microwave 2 Bands 8Bands 
adiometer 1 Pol 2Pol 
Radiometer Res 23km Res.5k m 
N 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Fig.1 Japanese Earth Observation Satellite Program 
  
  
  
136 International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXIII, Part B1. Amsterdam 2000. 
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