Launch index
Launch Successful

H-IIA 202 | GCOM-C1 & SLATS

December 23, 2017 at 1:26 AM UTC

Tanegashima Space Center, Japan

H-IIA 202 | GCOM-C1 & SLATS launch image
Mission imagery · H-IIA 202

Launch details

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T−00d00h00m00s

December 23, 2017 at 1:26 AM UTC

Status: Launch Successful · Live feed refreshes every 30 seconds

Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-1

Tanegashima Space Center, Japan · 30.4008, 130.9778

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Rocket
H-IIA 202
Launch site
Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-1

Tanegashima Space Center, Japan

Launch probability
-1%
Window opens
December 23, 2017 at 1:26 AM UTC
Window closes
December 23, 2017 at 1:48 AM UTC
Feed updated
June 14, 2023 at 3:53 AM UTC

Mission description

GCOM-C1 is another satellite in JAXA's Earth observation Global Change Observation Mission (GCOM) constellation. This spacecraft is the first satellite in GCOM-C series and is intended to operate in sun-synchronous orbit for 5 years. It aims to collect surface and atmospheric measurements in order to monitor global climate change. Along with it is launched an engineering test satellite SLATS (Super Low Altitude Test Satellite), which is an attempt to develop techniques to operate a satellite in extremely low orbits. SLATS will try achieve that by maintaining position in orbit via ion engines. It will also collect data on atmosphere density and measure atomic oxygen in such low altitudes.

Vehicle

H-IIA 202

H-II · 202

Height

53 m

Diameter

4 m

LEO capacity

10,000 kg

Successful launches

35

Launch complex

Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-1

Tanegashima Space Center, Japan

The Tanegashima Space Center is the largest rocket-launch complex in Japan. It is located on the southeastern tip of Tanegashima, an island located south of Kyushu, an island and region and Japan. It was established in 1969 when the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) was formed, and is now run by JAXA. The activities that take place at TNSC include assembly, testing, launching, and tracking satellites, as well as rocket engine firing tests.

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