KAGOSHIMA PREFECTURE, JAPAN (NBC) - Japan's space agency will launch a
satellite next Wednesday that will monitor greenhouse gases and assist
in the fight against climate change.

After blast-off, the satellite will go into orbit around the Earth
making rounds in less than two hours, and will collect new climate
data every three days.

The Japan Aerospace Agency calls the greenhouse satellite the Go-Sat,
and says it is able to detect infrared signals absorbed by greenhouse
gases.

The satellite is equipped with sensors and can observe the
distribution of carbon dioxide and methane.

The satellite is scheduled to be in orbit for five years and
preliminary data is expected to be ready for scientists by April or
May.

UN climate officials are hoping to work out a new emission treaty by
December 2009, but this satellite should help to monitor gases before
and after any treaty is signed.

http://www.14wfie.com/global/story.asp?s=9690525

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For more information on GOSAT, please see:

http://www.jaxa.jp/article/interview/vol28/index_e.html