The ASTER Project is a Japan-US cooperative Earth-observing project aimed at contributing to the solution of global environment and resources problems. ASTER, the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer, the first in a series of satellites planned in the NASA-initiated international EOS Project, was launched in December 1999 aboard the Terra platform. It is now in its normal operation phase and collecting data according to plan. Data distribution to the public started in December 2000.
Details
of ASTER Sensors
Details
of the EOS Project
The ASTER Project is composed of the Science, GDS (Ground Data System), and Instrument projects.
The ASTER Science Project promotes data application research using ASTER data, collates and addresses users' needs, and conducts R&D with the aim of generating specific data products. The Science Project is supported by both Japanese and US scientists in a variety of fields including geology and resources, meteorology, agriculture and forestry, oceanology, and environmental studies.
The ASTER GDS Project generates ASTER observation schedules on request from users, processes Level 0 raw data into Level 1 data products, and archives and distributes them to the public on CD-ROMs and other media.
(Sorry! Japanese only)
The ASTER Instrument Project has been conducting R&D and reviews of ASTER and other observation instruments. This project was led by JAROS (the Japan Resources Observation System Organization) during the initial checkout period following the ASTER/Terra launch. It was then passed on to the ASTER GDS Project at the start of its normal operation phase, in September 2000, although cooperation with JAROS is ongoing.