H-IIA 202: GOSAT-GW (Ibuki GW)
GOSAT-GW (Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite Greenhouse gases and Water cycle), also known as Ibuki GW and formerly known as GOSAT 3, is JAXA's next generation satellite to monitor the greenhosue gases like carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere. It is the follow on to the GOSAT 2 (Ibuki 2) and GCOM-W (Shizuku) missions. GOSAT-GW will have two missions: greenhouse gases observation for Japan's Ministry of the Environment and the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), and water-cycle observation for JAXA. By developing the GOSAT-GW satellite, Mitsubishi Electric will contribute to measures for preventing disasters attributed to global warming and climate change, and to advance scientific and technological methods that enable more accurate prediction of climate change. In December 2013, Mitsubishi Electric (MELCO) was selected as the prime contractor for the spacecraft and the instruments.
Mission Data
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 updates
Launch success.
Spacecraft separation.
Source ↗Liftoff.
Rescheduled for June 28 UTC.
Source ↗Launch delayed due to 2nd stage electrical system problem; new launch date TBD.
Source ↗GO for launch.
Source ↗NET June 23 UTC/early morning June 24 JST.
Source ↗NET June 2025.
Source ↗NET Q2 due to satellite testing delays.
Source ↗Tweaked approximate launch date per launch manifest (P.129 of source).
Source ↗
Launch Site
Launch data from Launch Library 2 by The Space Devs.