Program: IGS

Intelligence Gathering Satellites, in Japanese: Joho Shushu Eisei (JSE)

Japanese spy satellite program. Two satellites launched in 2003 and 6 more are planned before March 2009 (total cost: $2 billion).

They may be used to monitor for nuclear explosions and missile launches in nearby countries in addition to global natural disasters and hurricanes.

Japan requested the US to have the satellite TLEs classified. This has encouraged amateurs to track the satellites and publish their orbits.

In Aug 2004, the government reserved $635 million to launch 2 new satellites in 2006. One would be optical technology, the other radar.

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