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Launch SuccessfulMitsubishi Heavy Industries

H-IIA 202: GCOM-C1 & SLATS

GCOM-C1 is another satellite in JAXA's Earth observation Global Change Observation Mission (GCOM) constellation. This spacecraft is the first satellite in GCOM-C series and is intended to operate in sun-synchronous orbit for 5 years. It aims to collect surface and atmospheric measurements in order to monitor global climate change. Along with it is launched an engineering test satellite SLATS (Super Low Altitude Test Satellite), which is an attempt to develop techniques to operate a satellite in extremely low orbits. SLATS will try achieve that by maintaining position in orbit via ion engines. It will also collect data on atmosphere density and measure atomic oxygen in such low altitudes.

Saturday, 23 December 2017
H-IIA 202: GCOM-C1 & SLATS

Mission Data

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
🇯🇵Mitsubishi Heavy IndustriesEst. 1884
Launch VehicleH-IIA 202
Vehicle FamilyH-II
Vehicle Record35 of 35 launches (100%)
Provider TypeCommercial
Agency Record57 successes / 2 failures (97%)
Success Streak3 consecutive
Mission TypeEarth Science
Target OrbitSun-Synchronous Orbit
Launch PadYoshinobu Launch Complex LP-1
Location🇯🇵 Tanegashima Space Center, Japan JPN
Orbital Launches This Year#87
Agency Launches This Year#6
Launches From This Pad57
Launches From This Site100
Status Note

The launch vehicle successfully inserted its payload(s) into the target orbit(s).

About H-IIA 202

H-IIA (H2A) is an active expendable launch system operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The liquid-fueled H-IIA rockets have been used to launch satellites into geostationary orbit, to launch a lunar orbiting spacecraft, and to launch Akatsuki, which studied the planet Venus. Launches occur at the Tanegashima Space Center.

Launch Site

Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-1 · 30.4008°N 130.9777°E

Launch data from Launch Library 2 by The Space Devs.