OrbitalHub

Credits: JAXA

The Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite or GOSAT for short, is getting closer to the launch scheduled for late January 2009. The chosen nickname for GOSAT is IBUKI, which means breath or puff.

IBUKI was encapsulated in the payload fairing after being mounted on the Payload Attach Fitting (PAF). The PAF is the base that connects the satellite and the launch vehicle. All of the integration operations are performed at the Spacecraft and Fairing Assembly building (SFA) at the Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC).

The final integration with the launch vehicle will be carried out at the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB).

GOSAT is the first satellite to observe greenhouse gases from space. The main contributors behind GOSAT are the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), and the Ministry of Environment (MOE).

The data collected by the GOSAT satellite will help us make better estimates as to how different areas on Earth contribute to global warming through the emission of greenhouse gases. The data will also help us understand the behavior of the greenhouse gases by combining global observation data collected on orbit with data collected on the ground, and it will also help us improve simulation models.

Credits: NASA

Carnival of Space #85 is hosted by CHEAP ASTRONOMY.

The first Carnival of Space for 2009 presents interesting stories. You can read about the future of human space flight, the Small Pressurized Rover (SPR), an interview with Elon Musk, 2,000 year-long space missions, the space elevator, the 40th anniversary of Apollo 8, and many more.

OrbitalHub presents an MIT Systems Engineering Course that focuses on the Space Shuttle. The course is part of the MIT OpenCourseware program.

Credits: NASA/JPL

Carnival of Space #84 is hosted by Next Big Future.

This week you can read about space solar power, oceans on Venus, Mars rovers, the top ten astronomy pictures of 2008, the AGU Conference, and many more interesting topics.

OrbitalHub has submitted an update on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter science mission.

Credits: ESA/NASA

The Carnival of Space is up(side down under) on Astroblog.

Ian Musgrave presents interesting stories from around the blogosphere this week in four categories: Down To Earth, Mars, Other bits of unimportant dust and gas, and Beyond the Solar System.

OrbitalHub made it in the third category with Columbus.

Credits: NASA

The Carnival of Space #82 is up on Space Disco. This edition is a videotastic edition of the carnival. Dave Mosher presents the wooden plank on Mars, the biggest star in the Universe, the Venus, Jupiter, and Moon conjunction, and many other stories.

OrbitalHub presents the James Webb Space Telescope in this edition of the Carnival of Space.

Credits: JAXA

The Carnival of Space #81 is up on Tiny Mantras. There are many interesting stories that you can read about this week: tips for buying a telescope, a zero-g coffee mug, tracking meteorites, and much more.

GOSAT/Ibuki was the story OrbitalHub contributed to the Carnival. We hope you will enjoy reading this week’s selection from around the space blogosphere.