Watch the Launch

Watch the Launch

Additional Media

温室効果ガス・水循環観測技術衛星(GOSAT-GW)/H-IIAロケット50号機打上げライブ中継

温室効果ガス・水循環観測技術衛星「いぶきGW」(GOSAT-GW)を搭載したH-IIAロケット50号機打上げの様子を、種子島宇宙センターよりライブ配信します。 English → https://www.youtube.com/live/5tRdzj_7OwQ 配信予定:2025年6月29日00:35頃~ 打上げ時間帯:午前1時33分03秒~午前1時52分00秒(日本標準時) 場所:種子島宇宙セ...

GOSAT-GW (Ibuki GW)

Overview

Destination: Sun-Synchronous Orbit
Mission: Earth Science

Sun-Synchronous Orbit Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-1 Tanegashima Space Center, Japan

GOSAT-GW (Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite Greenhouse gases and Water cycle), also known as Ibuki GW and formerly known as GOSAT 3, is JAXA's next generation satellite to monitor the greenhosue gases like carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere. It is the follow on to the GOSAT 2 (Ibuki 2) and GCOM-W (Shizuku) missions. GOSAT-GW will have two missions: greenhouse gases observation for Japan's Ministry of the Environment and the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), and water-cycle observation for JAXA. By developing the GOSAT-GW satellite, Mitsubishi Electric will contribute to measures for preventing disasters attributed to global warming and climate change, and to advance scientific and technological methods that enable more accurate prediction of climate change. In December 2013, Mitsubishi Electric (MELCO) was selected as the prime contractor for the spacecraft and the instruments.

Updates

Cosmic_Penguin • June 28, 2025, 6:49 p.m.

Launch success.


Cosmic_Penguin • June 28, 2025, 4:55 p.m.

Spacecraft separation.


Cosmic_Penguin • June 28, 2025, 4:33 p.m.

Liftoff.


Cosmic_Penguin • June 24, 2025, 5:10 a.m.

Rescheduled for June 28 UTC.


Cosmic_Penguin • June 19, 2025, 8:26 a.m.

Launch delayed due to 2nd stage electrical system problem; new launch date TBD.


H-IIA

Family:
Configuration: 202

H-IIA (H2A) is an active expendable launch system operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The liquid-fueled H-IIA rockets have been used to launch satellites into geostationary orbit, to launch a lunar orbiting spacecraft, and to launch Akatsuki, which studied the planet Venus. Launches occur at the Tanegashima Space Center.

Specifications
  • Stages
    2
  • Length
    53.0 m
  • Diameter
    4.0 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    4.0 m
  • Launch Mass
    285.0 T
  • Thrust
    2260.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    H-IIA
  • Family
  • Variant
    202
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    H-IIA 202
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
    $90000000
  • Low Earth Orbit
    10000.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    4100.0 kg
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

(MHI)

President: Seiji Izumisawa Founded: 1884 Successes: 56 Failures: 2 Pending: 13

Agency Type:

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. is a Japanese multinational engineering, electrical equipment and electronics company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. MHI is one of the core companies of the Mitsubishi Group. MHI's products include aerospace components, air conditioners, aircraft, automotive components, forklift trucks, hydraulic equipment, machine tools, missiles, power generation equipment, printing machines, ships and space launch vehicles. Through its defense-related activities, it is the world's 23rd-largest defense contractor measured by 2011 defense revenues and the largest based in Japan.

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NASASpaceflight

Japan’s GOSAT-GW to launch aboard final H-IIA rocket

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Tanegashima Space Center, Japan

Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-1


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