IBUKI (GOSAT), a satellite with greenhouse gas observational technologies was developed through a joint project by JAXA, the Ministry of the Environment and the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES). The satellite will measure greenhouse gases from space. This includes carbon dioxide and methane, which are said to be the cause of global warming. Through this, we aim to gains a deeper scientific understanding of global warming and climate change, to contribute to measures to fight against global warming.
On January 23, 2009, the Ibuki was launched using the H-IIA rocket-15. This was the first small satellite chosen from applications for use of a H-IIA rocket. JAXA’s SDS-1 (Small Demonstration Satellite-1) along with seven other small satellites were launched into orbit around Earth.