39766 - ALOS 2

Daichi-2 (ALOS-2) is a radar imaging spacecraft operated by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). From sun-synchronous orbit, it is used for land and resource studies, disaster monitoring and environmental research.

The ALOS-2 mission follows on from the original ALOS, which was launched in 2006 and operated for five years until mid-May 2011. Unlike its predecessor, which carried both optical and radar imagery payloads, Daichi-2 will be used only for radar imaging.

Facts in Brief

Launch Date: 2014-05-24
Launch Vehicle: H-2A
Launch Site: Tanegashima, Japan