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Japan
Breaks With Tradition in Launching Two Spy Satellites
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A Japanese H2A
successfully launched a pair of reconnaissance satellites from
Tanegashima at 01:27 UTC on March 28. The two intelligence
satellites were placed into a near-polar orbit with an altitude of
500 km (270 nmi). The US$2.05 billion (250 billion yen) program to
launch eight satellites over six years (by March 2009) was
entirely developed by Japanese firms. Next-generation spy
satellites to be launched in 2008 are expected to have image
resolution of 0.5 meter.
The Intelligence
Gathering Satellites (IGS) were manufactured by Mitsubishi
Electric (MELCO), having a design life of 5 years. The satellites
will be operated by the Cabinet Satellite Information Center. The
850 kg (1874 lbm) IGS 1A is equipped with an optical sensor and
the 1200 kg (2645 lbm) IGS 1B satellite with a synthetic aperture
radar. The spacecraft are able to distinguish objects on earth 1
to 3 meters in size. The satellites are intended to support
Japan's national defense as well as help the nation cope with
major natural disasters.
Another
pair of satellites for the system will be launched later this
year. The H2A program has less than ten government and domestic
launches on its manifest.
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