IGS-9A (IGS-Radar Spare)

Spacecraft nº:

Japanese spacecraft nº: 211

Launch data:

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• IGS 9A (Information Gathering Satellite) is a Japanese spy satellite that carries a sophisticated radar payload designed to survey the globe night and day, and in all weather conditions, from an orbit about 300 miles (483 km) above Earth. The synthetic aperture radar instrument can see through clouds and camouflage, but its exact capabilities are kept secret by the Japanese government. IGS 9A joins a network of surveillance craft run by the Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center, which reports directly to the Japanese government′s executive leadership. The radar spy craft was built as a backup for reconnaissance satellites launched on earlier missions.

Mission details:

• Delayed from Jan. 29, 2015 (postponed by poor weather).
• The Radar Spare satellite (Reda Yobiki) in the Information Gathering Satellite (Joho Shushu Eisei) series was launched on Feb 1, 2015 aboard an H-IIA 202 (flight F27) from Tanegashima.
  The IGS satellites are operated by Japan's Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center.

External links:

• Spaceflight 101: Satellite Information
  
• Satellite tracking: Real time satellite tracking