IGS-Optical 6 (JSE K-6)

Launch data:

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• IGS O-6 is a Japanese satellite designed to take high-resolution images to support both national security and civil government applications, including disaster monitoring. The third-generation optical satellites are reported to have an imaging resolution of around 40 centimeters (16 inches). The Optical 6 spacecraft was constructed, like all IGS satellites, by Mitsubishi Electric.

Mission details:

• On Feb 27 Japanºs MHI launched H-IIA flight 38 from Tanegashima, carrying an optical spy satellite to sun-synchronous orbit. In Japanese the name of the satellite is ′Joho Shushu Eisei Kougaku 6 gouki′, which translates as ′Information Gathering Satellite, Optical 6 Unit′. Most English-language sources use an abbreviated form of the translation, IGS O-6; but we don′t do that for Russian satellites - it′s Soyuz MS-06, not Union MS-06. The abbreviated form of the Japanese name is JSE K-6.

External links:

• Satellite tracking (n2ya.com): Real time satellite tracking