1st images acquired by "Daichi" [JAXA ALOS satellite] (Forwarded)

Public Affairs Department
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Marunouchi Kitaguchi Building,
1-6-5, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8260
Japan
TEL:+81-3-6266-6400

February 15, 2006

Image data acquired by the PRISM onboard the "Daichi"

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) would like to announce
that image data was successfully acquired by the Panchromatic Remote-
sensing Instrument for Stereo Mapping (PRISM) onboard the Advanced
Land Observing Satellite "Daichi," which was launched on January 24,
2006 (Japan Standard Time, JST). The data was acquired as part of the
initial functional verification test.

The attached images of Mt. Fuji (Diagram 1) and Shimizu Port in
Shizuoka Prefecture (Diagram 2) were both observed by the PRISM at
10:30 a.m. on Feb. 14 (JST [0130 UTC]), and later received at the
Earth Observation Center (in Hatoyama-cho, Hiki-gun, Saitama Pref.)

This sensor can acquire high-resolution three directional 3-D data,
marking a world first for an earth observation satellite data.

We will release more image acquisitions by the Advanced Visible and
Near Infrared Radiometer type 2 (AVNIR-2) and the Phased Array type
L-band Synthetic Aperture Rader (PALSER) as soon as they are performed.

Diagram 1: Mt Fuji observed by the PRISM,
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2006/02/20060215_daichi_e.html#at01

Diagram 2: Shimizu Port in Shizuoka Prefecture as observed by the
PRISM,
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2006/02/20060215_daichi_e.html#at02

*****

Public Affairs Department
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Marunouchi Kitaguchi Building,
1-6-5, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8260
Japan
TEL:+81-3-6266-6400

February 17, 2006

Image data acquired by the PALSAR onboard the "Daichi"

The Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) and Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency (JAXA) would like to announce that image data was
successfully acquired by the Phased Array type L-band Synthetic
Aperture Radar (PALSAR) onboard the Advanced Land Observing Satellite
"Daichi," which was launched on January 24, 2006 (Japan Standard Time,
JST). The data was acquired as part of the initial functional
verification test.

The attached images of Mt. Fuji and Izu Peninsular (Diagram 1) and
Shizuoka City (Diagram 2) were observed by the PALSAR at 10:16 p.m.
on Feb. 15 (JST [1316 UTC]]), and later received at the Earth
Observation Center (in Hatoyama-cho, Hiki-gun, Saitama Pref.)

The PALSAR is the only satellite that uses onboard phased array type
synthetic aperture radar with L-band by which observations are less
affected by conditions on the Earth's surface. By observing the same
location on the Earth twice (interference processing), the observation
accuracy for the elevation and subsidence on the Earth can be as close
as a few centimeters.

Note: The PALSAR was developed by the METI in cooperation with JAXA.
At the METI, the Japan Resources Observation System Organization
(JAROS) is in charge of developing the electric equipment, and the
Earth Remote Sensing Data Analysis Center (ERSDAC) is in charge of
data processing and its use and research.

Diagram 1: Mt Fuji and the Izu Peninsular observed by the PALSAR,
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2006/02/20060217_daichi_e.html#at01

Diagram 2: Shizuoka City Area during the night,
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2006/02/20060217_daichi_e.html#at02

*****

Public Affairs Department
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Marunouchi Kitaguchi Building,
1-6-5, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8260
Japan
TEL:+81-3-6266-6400

February 17, 2006

Image data acquired by the AVNIR-2 onboard the "Daichi"

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) would like to announce
that image data was successfully acquired by the Advanced Visible and
Near Infrared Radiometer type-2 (AVNIR-2) onboard the Advanced Land
Observing Satellite "Daichi," which was launched on January 24, 2006
(Japan Standard Time, JST.) The data was acquired as part of the
initial functional verification test.

The attached image of the Tanegashima area was observed by the
AVNIR-2 at 10:50 a.m. on Feb. 17 (JST [0150 UTC]), and later
received at the Earth Observation Center (in Hatoyama-cho, Hiki-gun,
Saitama Pref.)

The Daichi is the only satellite that can perform high resolution
observations of one specific area with both light and radio frequency
by using both the Advanced Visible and Near Infrared Radiometer type 2
(AVNIR-2) and the Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Rader
(PALSER) simultaneously. Through this ability, it can identify the
Earth's surface more precisely.

Diagram 1: Tanegahima Island observed by the AVNIR-2,
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2006/02/20060217_daichi-2_e.html#at01


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