Multi-Functional Transport Satellite

Multifunctional Transport Satellites (MTSAT) are a series of weather and aviation control satellites. They are geostationary satellites owned and operated by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), and provide coverage for the hemisphere centred on 140° East; this includes Japan and Australia who are the principal users of the satellite imagery that MTSAT provides. They replace the GMS-5 satellite, also known as Himawari 5 (“himawari” or “ひまわり” meaning “sunflower”). They can provide imagery in five wavelength bands — visible and four infrared, including the water vapour channel. The visible light camera has a resolution of 1 km; the infrared cameras have 4 km (resolution is lower away from the equator at 140° East). The spacecraft have a planned lifespan of five years. MTSAT-1 and 1R were built by Space Systems/Loral. MTSAT-2 was built by Mitsubishi.

MTSAT-1 and GOES-9

Launch failure

The launch of MTSAT-1, on a Japanese H-II rocket, failed on November 15, 1999 and the spacecraft was destroyed. GMS-5, the satellite MTSAT-1 was intended to replace, was decommissioned on April 1, 2003 leaving Japan without weather satellite imagery.

NOAA loan

To fill in the void, The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) loaned the GOES-9 satellite to the JMA and repositioned it over 145° East on May 22, 2003.^[1]

MTSAT-1R

MTSAT-1R (also known as Himawari 6) was successfully launched on a H-IIA on February 26, 2005 and became partially operational on June 28, 2005 — the aviation payload was not functional as two MTSATs are required for air traffic control. GOES-9 was decommissioned when MTSAT-1R came online in June 2005.

MTSAT-2

MTSAT-2 (also known as Himawari 7) successfully launched on February 18, 2006 and is positioned at 145° East. The weather functions of MTSAT-2 were put into hibernation until the end of MTSAT-1R’s life (5 years from launch). The transportation and communication functions of MTSAT-2 will be utilized prior to that time.

Attitude control malfunction

On November 5, 2007 JMA announced a malfunction in the attitude control of MTSAT-2.^[2] Attitude control was restored November 7, 2007. The presumed cause of the malfunction was improper functioning of an attitude control thruster. A spare thruster was used to return the spacecraft to normal operation.^[3]

Ground segment

Ground stations for both satellites are located in Kobe and Hitachiota, Japan.

References

1. ^ [http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/releases2003/may03/noaa03060.html JAPANESE NOW USING NOAA GOES-9 ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITE, NOAA Press Release, May 22, 2003]
2. ^ "Malfunction of the attitude control of MTSAT-2". JMA. 2007-11-05. http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/jma-eng/satellite/NEWS/071105mt2.html. 
3. ^ "Recovery of MTSAT-2". JMA. 2007-11-07. http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/jma-eng/satellite/NEWS/071107mt2.html. 

External links

• JMA Satellite Activities (accessed August 13, 2005)
• MTSAT information from Australian Bureau of Meteorology (accessed August 13, 2005)
• Gunter's Space Page:
  • MTSAT 1, 1R (Himawari 6)
  • MTSAT 2
• Loral.com: Loral-built MTSAT-1R multi-functional satellite successfully launched

• JMA Website (English)
• MTSAT weather satellite viewer Online MTSAT weather satellite viewer with 2 months of archived data.