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NASDA, Japan
2002/12/04

ADEOS-II Observation Data and Ground Station
      -- 10 days before a launch --
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Post-test operations and detailed data verification of the cryogenic 
test were completed for H-IIA F4, and, on Dec. 3, the final functional 
inspection was carried out. On Dec. 6, encapsulated ADEOS-II and three 
microsatellites will be loaded on top of H-IIA F4.

The Advanced Earth Observing Satellite-II (ADEOS-II) is equipped with
sensors manufactured not only in Japan but also in the U.S. (NASA) and
France (CNES, Center National D'Etudes Spatiales), thus it is expected 
to be an international cooperative mission. Acquired data will also be 
received in many countries, namely, NASDA Earth Observation Centre 
(EOC, in Hiki-gun Saitama Prefecture), NASA ground stations (in 
Fairbanks AK, and Wallops VA), and a ground station in Sweden 
(Kiruna). The data will be collected at NASDA EOC through ground lines 
or by recording media (such as magnetic tapes).  Collected data will 
be edited and processed to be distributed to each sensor provider.

The period of time for real-time communication between ground stations 
and ADEOS-II can be significantly extended by using the Data Relay 
Test Satellite (DRTS or "Kodama"), which was launched on Sep. 10. 
Direct communication time without Kodama will be just 10 minutes, 
whereas it will be extended to 45 minutes through Kodama. Therefore, 
with Kodama, it is possible for NASDA EOC to directly receive most of 
acquired data, and that will surely lead more efficient operation.

* "Kodama" Data Relay Test Satellite (DRTS)

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