VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #7278 1281952
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 081940Z MAY 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 8880
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS STATE 047278 
 
SIPDIS 
COMMERCE FOR NOAA - MARGARIDA YUAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAIR TSPA SENV JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN:  SUPPORT FOR GLOBAL CHANGE OBSERVATION 
MISSION SATELLITE PROGRAMS 
 
¶1.  This is an action request.  Embassy Tokyo is requested to 
meet with senior officials at the Ministry of Education, 
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to encourage 
Japan to maintain its current launch schedule for the Global 
Change Observation Mission satellite program. 
 
¶2.  Background:  Japan's Strategic Headquarters for Space 
Policy is asking for public comments by May 18 on the Basic 
Space Plan which will soon come into effect as national space 
strategy for Japan.  As currently drafted, the plan would 
delay by one year the launch of GCOM-C1.  The cooperation 
between JAXA and NOAA on the Global Change Observation 
Mission (GCOM) has enabled ongoing progress towards the 
launch of the GCOM-W1 and GCOM-C1.  The Japanese launch of 
these monitoring satellites will open up potential areas of 
mutual benefit including the exchange of data, GCOM date 
reception support by NOAA, and cooperation in the 
calibration/validation of data.  In addition the U.S. has 
proposed the installation of a National Polar-orbiting 
Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) ground 
station at JAXA's Earth Observation Center, and believes 
scientific exchange on satellite derived climate trends and 
the possibility of U.S. developed dual-frequency 
scatterometers flying aboard the GCOM-W series of satellites 
will prove beneficial for weather forecasting and warning and 
climate research. 
 
¶3.  Proposed talking points: 
 
Since 2007, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 
have met regularly to identify areas of potential 
collaboration between our agencies. 
 
NOAA is very interested in the benefits presented by GCOM-C 
Second-generation Global Imager (SGLI) data and GCOM-W 
Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-2 (AMSR-2) data. 
Complementary and synergistic datasets from GCOM and the U.S. 
National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite 
System (NPOESS) could be produced for global monitoring of 
oceans, weather, and climate for user worldwide.  This date 
will also greatly benefit operational users involved in 
weather forecasting, ocean color, and environmental planning. 
 
We understand that the Japanese space program is now being 
reorganized under the newly enacted Basic Space Law.  This is 
an important development that will elevate space development 
as part of the national strategies of Japan.  We sincerely 
hope that the new space program will further strengthen 
JAXA's ongoing international partnerships and promote a 
comprehensive and efficient global observing satellite 
network. 
 
The GCOM program offers an opportunity for Japan to augment 
its contribution to global Earth observations and further 
enhance its leadership role in the Global Earth Observation 
System of Systems (GEOSS) and the international community as 
a whole. 
 
We believe the GCOM program will help promote the goals of 
both Japan's new space program and of MEXT in advancing 
aerospace and environmental research to benefit the people of 
Japan and the global community.  None of this cooperation 
could have been possible without the continued leadership and 
vision of MEXT. 
 
Maintaining the original anticipated launch dates of GCOM-W 
and GCOM-C would be most welcome. 
 
I hope you will keep me informed about future developments. 
 
¶4.  Embassy Tokyo's assistance is appreciated. 
CLINTON