Aoshima 00385 Weather Satellite Himawari

Himawari 8 is a modern Japanese meteorological satellite that began operating in space in July 2015 and was launched in October 2014. The satellite was constructed by Mitsubishi Electric, in cooperation with the Boeing concern, and is currently operated by the Japanese Meteorological Agency. The satellite's take-off weight was 3500 kg, and the weight of the satellite itself was 1300 kg. Himawari 8 is the eighth Japanese meteorological satellite with this name. Its main tasks include taking multispectral photos in the range of visible and infrared light of the Pacific and Asian regions. It also plays a huge role in weather forecasting and tracking the movement of cyclones, but also any weather anomalies. The satellite has an estimated lifetime of eight years. It is worth adding that in November 2016, the successor of the Himawari 8 satellite was launched into orbit, which will remain in standby until 2022.