Japan's national government has drawn up plans for the development of a $1.3 billion reconnaissance satellite system. This follows the flight of North Korea's Tapeo Dong 1 missile over the Japanese mainland on a failed satellite launch attempt on 31 August.
The system, which will provide a much-needed stimulus to Japan's national satellite and launcher industry, could include co-orbiting optical and radar observation spacecraft and an early warning satellite to spot missile launches from North Korea.
A government statement says it is considering several options and up to four spacecraft could be launched starting in 2002.
Aside from developing an independent system with both reconnaissance and early warning satellite payloads, the government may link the project to the Japan-US Theatre Missile Defence system programme for which studies are now under review. Converting Japan's planned civilian earth observation system for reconnaissance work is another option.
The Advanced Land Observation Satellite, a synthetic aperture radar spacecraft to be orbited on an H2A in 2003, could be modified to improve its resolution to 1m, similar to that of the US National Reconnaissance Office's Lacrosse satellite system.
Source: Flight International