Press Release

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Accession to the International Charter "Space and Major Disasters"

February 10, 2005 (JST)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

By taking the opportunity of attending the Earth Observation Summit III to be held in Brussels, Belgium on February 16, 2005, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) signs the "Charter On Cooperation To Achieve The Coordinated Use Of Space Facilities In The Event Of Natural Or Technological Disasters (hereinafter called "The International Charter Space and Major Disasters")" and accedes to the International Disaster Charter for the purpose of promoting its contribution to the disaster management by the earth observation satellites.


The International Charter is an international cooperative framework participated mainly by the space agencies across the world. At the occasion of a large-scale disaster, it aims to contribute to the understanding of its cause, the restoration of affected areas and follow-up management by providing the earth observation satellite-acquired data. It stipulates to provide free data on the request of an Authorized User (it is a national government body in charge of disaster management to which a participating space agency of the International Charter belongs. It will be the Cabinet Office in Japan).



Exhibit 1: Outline of the International Charter "Space and Major Disasters"


The outline of the International Charter "Space and Major Disasters"

  1. Official name:
    Charter On Cooperation To Achieve The Coordinated Use Of Space Facilities In The Event Of Natural Or Technological Disasters

  2. Date of effect, Participating Space Agencies (Members) and Space Resources:
    Effected on June 20, 2000 with signatures of the Presidents of CNES and ESA


    3. MembersSpace Resources
    European Space Agency (Europe) ERS, ENVISAT
    Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (France) SPOT
    Canadian Space Agency (Canada) RADARSAT
    Indian Space Research Organisation (India) IRS
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (USA) POES, GOES
    Argentina's Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales (Argentina) SAC-C
    Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Japan) Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS)
  3. Aim:
    To contribute to the reduction of crisis arising from disasters, by providing free earth observation satellite data and others based upon the best efforts of participating agencies at the time of major disasters.


  4. Cooperative framework:
    • Constituted by Members and National Government Bodies in charge of disaster management to which Members of the International Charter belong.
    • The financial transfer is not made among the Members
    • The coordination among the Members is made by the Committee consisting of representatives of the Members and by the Secretariat
  5. The earth observation satellite data supplied from JAXA:
    The archive data of the earth observation satellites operated by JAXA are supplied. After the launch of the advanced land observing satellite (ALOS), which will be slated for launch in the summer of 2005, the ALOS observation data will be a major one to be supplied.

    The advanced land observing satellite (ALOS):
    Official website:http://www.jaxa.jp/missions/projects/sat/eos/alos/index_e.html

  6. Recent Activations:
    The activations up to now have been about 70 times. Out of them, 20 times were made in 2004 including the earthquake off the coast of Sumatra and tsunami.

    International Charter "Space and Major Disasters":
    Official website:http://www.disasterscharter.org/main_e.html


For inquiries:
JAXA Public Affairs Department
Tel: +81-3-6266-6413 to 7, Fax: +81-3-6266-6910