On Sunday, 29 June, Japan made a successful launch of satellite to monitor climate change using H-2A missile, which has completed his career before the full transition to the new flagship model H3. The rocket started from the Tanegasim Space Center in the southwest of the country, Outing into orbit satellite Gosat-GW (Global Observing SATellite for Greenhouse gases and Water cycle), which is part of the national effort to combat climate change.
Approximately through 16 minutes after launch, the satellite successfully separated from the rocket and entered the planned orbit. The launch was delayed for several days due to a malfunction in the rocket's electrical system. The flight control center confirmed the successful completion of the mission.
It was the 50th and final flight of the H-2A rocket, which since its debut in 2001 carried out in the year 49 successful launches with an overall reliability score 98%. WITH 2007 In 2008, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was engaged in its operation. In the future, its functions will be transferred to the new H3 rocket, which is already in use.
GOSAT-GW is the third satellite in a series of missions to monitor greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide and methane. Data transfer is expected to begin within the year, in particular, ocean surface temperature and rainfall, in high resolution for users around the world, in particular, the American agency NOAA.
The H-2A rocket played an important role in the development of the Japanese space program, in particular, delivered the SLIM module into orbit for landing on the Moon, as well as the Hayabusa2 probe to study the asteroid.
Completion of the H-2A program will allow resources to be focused on further development of the H3 missile, which has a higher carrying capacity and almost half the launch cost. This will enable Japan to be more competitive in the global launch market.
Source: https://phys.org