Overview of Japanese Earth Observation programs

Currently, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and Japan Space Systems (JSS) are operating major Earth Observation Satellites. Ibuki (GOSAT) carrying TANSO-CAI and -FTS, GOSAT-2 carrying TANSO-CAI2 and -FTS2, Shizuku (GCOM-W) carrying AMSR2, Daichi-2 (ALOS-2) carrying PALSAR-2 , DPR on GPM-core satellite of NASA, and Shikisai (GCOM-C) carrying SGLI, are being operated by JAXA under cooperation with some domestic agencies, such as Ministry of Environment (MoE), National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT). JMA is operating meteorological satellite Himawari-8 and -9 on geostationary orbit. Next generation of meteorological satellite is about to develop by JMA. JSS is operating ASTER on EOS-Terra satellite of NASA and HISUI on ISS. For coming satellites or instruments, JAXA is preparing CPR on EarthCARE satellite of ESA, ALOS-4 carrying PALSAR-3 and GOSAT-GW carrying TANSO-3 + AMSR-3 as follow-on mission for GOSAT-2. And the first Japanese Lidar mission MOLI on ISS is expected to entering development phase