JAXA inserted new AMSR2 into A-Train orbit
Image from JAXA press release
I’m late to this news from Japan. Middle 2012 JAXA launched SHIZUKU satellite where a major feature is an AMSR2 instrument, which I assume is a replacement for the highly successful instument which failed (scan bearing failure). Insertion into the A-Train string of satellites makes this orbit compatible.
IJIS/JAXA were publishing daily sea ice data using the old AMSR2 instrument, this ceased but was brought back using the US Navy Windsat satellite.
The new AMSR2 data already includes polar ice scan. Presumably IJIS/JAXA will jump ship backward.
From press release
More recent news
A May 2013 press release shows a data portal and new products
This graphic I found quite interesting
From press release which contains a lot more information here.
