<title>Development of ASTER ground data system and ASTER first data generation</title>

Abstract

12 ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection radiometer) which has been developed by MITI (Ministry of International Trade and Industry) and JAROS was successfully launched on December 18 10:57 PST on the satellite called Terra by the Launch Vehicle Atlas II. On the ground, ASTER Ground DATA System (ASTER GDS) has been developed also by MITI and ERSDAC together with EOSDIS (EOS Data and Information System) that has been developed by NASA and GSFC (Goddard Space Flight Center). Currently, Terra is orbiting around the Earth on the nominal polar orbit and ASTER is collecting data from all over the world. The comprehensive operation of Terra is performed by GSFC, while ASTER operation is conducted by ASTER GDS. As of September 2000, ASTER is working well and producing good image data of VNIR (Visible and Near Infrared Radiometer), SWIR (Short Wavelength Infrared Radiometer) and TIR (Thermal Infrared Radiometer). The details at the development stage of ASTER GDS have been described three times in foregoing SPIE Conferences. In this paper, the first data and experiences during the Initial Checkout will be discussed.