May 27, 2014 (JST)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed via telemetry that the attitude control system of the Advanced Land Observing Satellite-2 "DAICHI-2" (ALOS-2) shifted to the regular operation mode. With this confirmation, scheduled important operations of the critical phase including the deployment of antennas for direct communications and mission instruments were all achieved, thus the critical operation phase*1 of the DAICHI-2 was completed at 4:00 p.m. on May 27, 2014 (Japan Standard Time.)

The satellite is now in a stable condition.

The satellite will move to the initial functional verification operation phase*2 to verify the function of the satellite onboard instruments for about two and half months.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all the parties and personnel concerned for their support and cooperation with the DAICHI-2 (ALOS-2) launch and tracking control operations.

*1 Critical operation phase

The critical operation phase is a period from the separation from the launch vehicle till the stabilization of the satellite attitude for regular operations by the satellite attitude control system after the deployment of the solar array paddles as well as communication and mission equipment antennas.

*2 Initial functional verification operation phase

The period to verify functions all over the satellite and its onboard instruments including the observation sensors.