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The Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) was launched on January 24, 2006 by a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) H-IIA launcher. It carries three remote sensing sensors: Advanced Visible and Near Infrared Radiometer type-2 (AVNIR-2), Panchromatic Remote-sensing Instrument for Stereo Mapping (PRISM) and Phased Array Type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR).
The ALOS mission is the contribution of the Japana to the Kyoto Protocole. Its innovative basic observation scenario guarantee a systematic observation of the most threatened ecosystems. In addition, a complete coverage of the Earth with high resolution images is planned in order to create or update cartographic map.
Within the framework of European ALOS Data European Node (ADEN), the European Space Research INstitute (ESRIN) as part of European Space Agency (ESA), teamed up with JAXA for contributing to the ALOS commissioning phase plan. GAEL was mandated to support the ESA for the calibration phase.
GAEL Consultant based in France has supported ESA / ESRIN in the design and execution of the plan. A team of Principal Investigator�s has been put together to provide technical expertise on the PRISM/AVNIR-2 optical remote sensing data.
The ALOS mission being operated by a foreign agency; the mission is classified as an ESA Third Party Mission.
The verification of ALOS optical data from PRISM and AVNIR-2 sensors activities was initiated four months after satellite launch on March 2006. GAEL has successfully collaborated with EU and Worlwide prime investigators to produce several reports and articles.
One year after the launch, the mission has been put into operation and data disseminated to the user.
So far, after the definition of the quality control, calibration/validation plan, GAEL is now acting as expert within the ESA quality control consortium.
Some calibration/validation exercices are performed in order to refine the existing measurements. On the other hand, there is an ongoing monitoring of the product performance.
Some reports produced in the frame of the ALOS projects can be visualized here .
