JAPAN: SUPPORT FOR GLOBAL CHANGE OBSERVATION

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