The launch date and time for the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 23 (H-IIA F23) withThe core observatory for the Global Precipitation Measurement mission onboard was decided to be at around 3:07 a.m. thru 5:07 a.m. (JST) on February 28 (Fri.,) 2014.
We opened a special site for the GPM/DPR, please have a look!

The core observatory for the Global Precipitation Measurement mission, which arrived at Kitakyushu Airport at 12:28 p.m. on Nov. 24 (Sun.) from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, was then transported via sea and land to the Spacecraft Test and Assembly Building 2 at the Tanegashima Space Center at 2:24 a.m. on the 27th (Wed.)
The observatory arrived at Shimama Port in Tanegashima by cargo ship on the evening of the 26th, then its transportation to the TNSC begun at midnight. A skilled transportation team slowly and carefully moved the observatory to the center at a speed of about 15 km/hour.

The core observatory for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission arrived at Kitakyushu Airport in Japan from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in the U.S.A. about 12:28 p.m. on Nov. 24 (Sun.) The GPM core observatory was jointly developed by JAXA and NASA. After arrival at the airport, the satellite was then transported to the Tanegashima Space Center by cargo ship for launch by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle. Its arrival here was originally scheduled for the 22nd, but it was delayed for two days due to bad weather in Alaska, where the cargo plane stopped for refueling.

The GPM mission is a joint international project to observe global precipitation conditions quite frequently and accurately by combining the core observatory and a consternation of some eight satellites. The GPM mission will begin on a full scale when the core observatory, which came to Japan today, is launched, and it will become useful in many ways for our daily life including global-scale water resource control, damage mitigation for water-related disasters such as typhoons and floods, and weather forecasting accuracy improvement.

The Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) aboard the GPM core observatory developed by JAXA is one of the cutting-edge observation devices developed in Japan. It enables three-dimensional observations of rain with high sensitivity.

The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) main satellite has been jointly developed by JAXA and NASA, and is scheduled to be launched in JFY 2013.
To facilitate a greater understanding on this mission, NASA will hold a live event where NASA and JAXA project managers and researchers will answer your questions. The questions will be asked through Twitter. You can send questions from Japan with the hashtag "#askJAXA". Your participation is very welcomed! (Image: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab)

[Event Information]
You can watch the live broadcast on NASA TV in English.

[How to ask questions]

[Other remarks]

The integration of the Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) onto the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory was successfully completed in May 2012.

This DPR is expected to be much more versatile than the TRMM precipitation radar (also provided by JAXA) and these two are the only radar instruments currently dedicated to precipitation measurements from space. The data obtained by the DPR along with that of the NASA GPM Microwave Imager (GMI), also flown on the Core Spacecraft, will be used as a calibration standard for rainfall estimation from the GPM constellation satellites. The GPM mission will enable global measurement of precipitation every three hours.

Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) that will be installed on the core satellite of the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission was delivered to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Greenbelt, MD on March 30.
Following installation of the DPR on the GPM Core Spacecraft, NASA will perform the spacecraft system testing at GSFC, and then be shipped to Japan for launch by the H-IIA launch vehicle in FY2013.
This DPR is expected to be much more versatile than the TRMM precipitation radar (also provided by JAXA) and these two are the only radar instruments currently dedicated to precipitation measurements from space. The data obtained by the DPR along with that of the NASA GPM Microwave Imager (GMI), also flown on the Core Spacecraft, will be used as a calibration standard for rainfall estimation from the GPM constellation satellites. The GPM mission will enable global measurement of precipitation every three hours.
(Top photo: DPR arrived at NASA Goddard Space Center / Bottom: Signing ceremony for delivery / Photos by NASA)

On Feb. 9, JAXA unveiled the dual frequency precipitation radar (DPR), which will be onboard the main satellite for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) project.
A press conference was also held on the same day, and project personnel not only from JAXA, but also from the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) and NASA explained the outline of the DPR and GPM main satellite. They also described possible contributions from the GPM project to research elucidating climate and water circulation changes, improving weather forecast accuracy, and use in damage preparation caused by water and wind such as floods.
The DPR will be transferred to NASA to be aboard the GPM main satellite, then the satellite will be launched by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle from the Tanegashima Space Center.

JAXA has decided on the logo mark for the dual-frequency precipitation radar (DPR) aboard the main satellite of the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) project.
As an international program, the GPM project has been led by Japan and the U.S. to observe global precipitation (such as rain and snow). JAXA is developing the DPR with the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT.)
The DPR, a high-performance precipitation measurement device, will be aboard the GPM main satellite to be launched by the H-IIA launch vehicle. Once it arrives in space, the radar is expected to contribute to compiling a high-precision global precipitation map.
The DPR, which has been tested at the Tsukuba Space Center, will be transported to a NASA facility to be combined with the part developed by NASA.

The dual-frequency precipitation radar (DPR) for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) project has been under development. The DPR will be loaded onto the main satellite of the GPM project, which aims to broaden observation coverage to a higher latitude compared to the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission. The DPR is equipped with two different frequency radars of Ku-band and Ka-band (KuPR and KaPR,) and it can observe light rain, pouring rain and snow simultaneously.
KuPR-KaPR co-operation test on May 25th, using a protoflight model, confirmed combined operations of the two radars which consist of the DPR at the electromagnetic shield room for the electromagnetic compatibility test in the Satellite Test Building Radiometer Ion Test Laboratory at the Tsukuba Space Center.

JAXA and NASA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on development and operation activities for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) project to measure precipitation (such as rain and snow) using a multiple number of satellites on July 31, 2009 (Japan Standard Time). With this MOU, the two organizations will further deepen the cooperative relationship and exercise comprehensive leadership utilizing the research and development ability and personnel of the two parties.

Development of the Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR), which will be installed in the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) satellite, has been underway. The DPR is composed of two radars with two different frequencies (KuPR and KaPR) to precisely measure light rain, heavy rain and snow at the same time. We are carrying out environment tests using the DPR thermal and structural models at the Tsukuba Space Center. The photo shows the vibration test on the Ku-band radar model.

Development of the Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) that will be installed in the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) satellite has been underway. The DPR is composed of two antennas with two different frequencies (KuPR and KaPR) to precisely measure light rain, heavy rain and snow at the same time. We are carrying out the antenna pattern measurement and radar operation verification for the Ku band radar by using its engineering model at the Radio Test Building at the TKSC.

The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) concept was based on TRMM`s achievements, and this concept is currently being studied. The GPM satellites consist of a TRMM-type primary satellite that carries a radar and a microwave radiometer and a fleet of constellation satellites that carry microwave radiometers. The primary satellite plans to go to higher latitudes than TRMM to extend the coverage. The constellation satellites will measure precipitation frequently and globally. GPM is currently planned to start operating in 2007-2008 timeframe. The primary satellite is planned to carry a Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) and a microwave radiometer. The combination of these two instruments will improve the accuracy of rainfall measurement and also realize snowfall observation, especially at higher latitudes. The 2nd GPM International Planning Workshop will be held from 20th (Mon.) through 22nd (Wed.) May 2002 at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo. The National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA), the Communications Research Laboratory (CRL) and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will co-host this workshop. Please see more details here.