The Advanced Earth Observing Satellite II will monitor frequent climate changes occurring in the world, expansion of the ozone holes, and global environmental changes, as well as investigating the causes of these phenomena.

The satellite has a launch mass of 3730 kg (8221 lbm) and an in-orbit power generation capability of 5.000 kW. The satellite stowed dimensions are 4 X 4 X 5 m. When the solar array paddle (3 X 24 m) are deployed, it has a span of 11 m in the flight direction and 29 m in the perpendicular direction.

The spacecraft consists of a mission module that carries mission instruments, and a bus module which carries bus subsystem. Each observation unit located on its earth viewing panel. The data relay antenna of Inter-Orbital Communications Subsystem and solar array paddle are attached at the top of the mission module. The bus module attaches Communications and Data Handling Subsystem, Mission Data Processing Subsystem, Direct Transmission Subsystem, Electrical Power Subsystem, Attitude and Orbit Control Subsystem, Reaction Control Subsystem. Each unit has an independent thermal control and minimum of interfaces with other units, which makes it easier to shorten spacecraft integration and testing period. ADEOS-II is equipped with two core sensors; AMSR for the observation of various physical content concerning water cycling regardless of day and night, and GLI for the observation of many field such as ocean, land and cloud with high precision.