ALOS-2 first year operation result

Abstract

The Advanced Land Observing Satellite-2 (ALOS-2) was launched from Tanegashima Space Center by H-IIA rocket successfully on 24th May 2014. The Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar-2 (PALSAR-2) is the state-of-the-art L-band SAR system which succeeds to PALSAR onboard ALOS. PALSAR-2 uses almost whole bandwidth allocated for L-band active sensor of Earth Exploration Satellites Service specified by the Radio Regulation in order to realize the high resolution observation, and also, PALSAR-2 transmits more than 6 kW power using 180 TRMs driven by Gallium Nitride (GaN) amplifier which is the first use for satellite in order to realize the lower Noise Equivalent Sigma Zero. Furthermore, because ALOS-2 carries PALSAR-2 only, PALSAR-2 antenna can be mounted under the satellite body. It enables to observe right-/left-looking observation by satellite maneuvering. And the high accuracy orbit control which maintains within 500 m radius tube for the reference orbit enables high coherence for the InSAR processing. Using these new technologies, ALOS-2 has been operating to fulfill the mission requirements such as disaster monitoring and so on. At this moment, one year has passed since the launch. This document introduces the first year operation result of ALOS-2.