GMS Credit - NASA

The Geostationary Meteorological Satellite series were spin-stabilized satellites. They were developed to contribute to the improvement of Japan's meteorological services and the development of weather satellite technology.

The satellites consisted of a despun section which held the earth-oriented antennas and a 100-rpm rotating spin section which contained the Visible and Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer (VISSR), electronic devices, etc. They were used for the World Meteorological Organization's World Weather Watch Program which was sustained by five geostationary satellites. Launching organization: National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA). Function: 1) Observation of meteorological phenomena by the visible and infra-red spin scan radiometer. 2) Collection of weather data from various stations. 3) Distribution of weather data to earth stations. 4) Monitoring of solar particles.

Typical orbit: 35823 km x 35853 km at 0 to 9 degrees inclination. Mass: 746 kg (1,644 lb). Main Engine: Star 27. Associated Launch Vehicle: Delta 2000, H-1, H-2, N-2.

• 1977 July 14 - Himawari 1 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Delta 2000. Mass: 670 kg (1,470 lb). Perigee: 36,005 km (22,372 mi). Apogee: 36,148 km (22,461 mi). Inclination: 11.10 deg. Period: 1,451.00 min.

  Geostationary meteorological satellite. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit over the Pacific Ocean at 140 deg E in 1977-1981; over the Pacific Ocean 160 deg E in 1981-1984; over the Pacific Ocean 140 deg E in 1984; over the Pacific Ocean160 deg E in 1984-1989 As of 29 August 2001 located at 10.47 deg W drifting at 3.675 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 112.63E drifting at 3.690W degrees per day.

• 1981 August 10 - Himawari 2 - Launch Site: Tanegashima. Launch Vehicle: N-2. Mass: 670 kg (1,470 lb). Perigee: 35,943 km (22,333 mi). Apogee: 36,034 km (22,390 mi). Inclination: 12.90 deg. Period: 1,446.40 min.

  Geostationary meteorological satellite. N launch vehicle flight number 8 (N-II launch vehicle). Launch time 2003 UT. Launching organization: National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA). Geostationary longitude 140 deg E. Function: 1) Observation of meteorological phenomena by the visible and infra-red spin scan radiometer. 2) Collection of weather data from various stations. 3) Distribution of weather data to earth stations. 4) Monitoring of solar particles. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 160 deg E in 1981; 140 deg E in 1981-1984; 145 deg E in 1984-1985; 120 deg E in 1985-1988 As of 31 August 2001 located at 33.93 deg E drifting at 2.598 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 153.66W drifting at 2.594W degrees per day.

• 1984 August 2 - Himawari 3 - Launch Site: Tanegashima. Launch Vehicle: N-2. Mass: 303 kg (668 lb). Perigee: 35,877 km (22,292 mi). Apogee: 35,942 km (22,333 mi). Inclination: 9.80 deg. Period: 1,442.40 min.

  Stationed at 140 deg E; also studied alpha particles, electrons. GMS-3 (Himawari-3). Launch 2030 GMT. Improvement of meteorological observation. Development of meteorological satellite technology. N Launch vehicle flight no 13. Launching organization NASDA. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 140 deg E in 1984-1989; 120 deg E in 1989-1995 As of 28 August 2001 located at 146.92 deg E drifting at 1.558 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 168.90W drifting at 1.566W degrees per day.

• 1989 September 5 - Himawari 4 - Launch Site: Tanegashima. Launch Vehicle: H-1. Mass: 725 kg (1,598 lb). Perigee: 36,410 km (22,620 mi). Apogee: 36,807 km (22,870 mi). Inclination: 6.20 deg. Period: 1,478.30 min.

  Stationed at 140 deg E. GMS-4 (Himawari-4). Improvement of meteorological observation. Development of meteorological satellite technology. Launch vehicle H-I (H20F). Launching organization NASDA. Launch time 1911 GMT. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 160 deg E in 1989; 140 deg E in 1989-1995; 120 deg E in 1995-1999 As of 4 September 2001 located at 126.83 deg E drifting at 10.301 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 71.28W drifting at 10.305W degrees per day.

• 1995 March 18 - Himawari 5 - Launch Site: Tanegashima. Launch Vehicle: H-2. Mass: 746 kg (1,644 lb). Perigee: 35,784 km (22,235 mi). Apogee: 35,791 km (22,239 mi). Inclination: 0.60 deg. Period: 1,436.00 min.

  Geostationary Meteorological Satellite; carried search and rescue package. Stationed at 140.2 deg E. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 160 deg E in 1995; 140 deg E in 1995-1999 As of 5 September 2001 located at 139.99 deg E drifting at 0.028 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 45.88E drifting at 3.134W degrees per day.

• USAF Satellite Database, USAF Institute of Technology, 1995. Accessed at: ftp://archive.afit.af.mil/pub/space/.

• JPL Mission and Spacecraft Library, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1997. Accessed at: http://msl.jpl.nasa.gov/home.html.

• McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page, Harvard University, 1997-present. Jonathan McDowell's complete on-line listing of all objects orbited and over 20,000 rocket launches Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.

• Krebs, Gunter, Gunter's Space Page, University of Frankfurt, 1996. Accessed at: http://www.skyrocket.de/space.