Data Deficit of
Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR-E)
November 5, 2004 (JST)
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
At 16:47 on 4 Nov. 2004 (JST), a data deficit (all data was 0 level) in one of the observation channels of JAXA's Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR-E) was found. AMSR-E is mounted on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) earth observation satellite "Aqua." After the analysis of this phenomenon, it was ascertained that receiver A for one of 6 observation frequency bands (89GHz), operated with receiver B in parallel to assure observation field of view, has been defective to output observation data after15:02 (the same day).
With this situation in mind, JAXA will conduct a investigation to determine the cause and advance measures for its recovery including switching on to the redundant system under the cooperation with NASA.
The condition of the satellite and other receivers for other frequency bands are normal.
(annotation 1)
Aqua was launched on 4 May 2002, and is in normal observation operation.
(annotation 2)
The AMSR-E is a microwave radiometer intended for performing observations of sea surface temperature, precipitation and rainfall. The AMSR-E performs the observations over six frequency bands: 6GHz ,10 GHz, 18 GHz, 23 GHz, 36 GHz, 89 GHz.
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