Mitsubishi Electric has announced that it has completed work on the Himawari-8 satellite, the next-generation geostationary meteorological satellite based on a contract awarded by the Japan Meteorological Agency. Himawari-8 will be delivered soon to Tanegashima Space Center, Japan, from where it is scheduled to be launched into orbit on October 7.

Himawari-8, the successor to the Multi-functional Transport Satellite-2 (MTSAT-2) satellite, is equipped with a new payload for a highly upgraded meteorological observation mission.

Unlike MTSAT-2, color images will be generated and spatial resolution will be twice as detailed. Observational data collected with Himawari-8 will enhance climate forecasting, weather-prediction numerical accuracy and environmental monitoring of weather such as typhoons, torrential rain and climate changes.

Data will be provided to more than 30 countries in the Asia and Pacific region to support advanced meteorological services, particularly improved natural-disaster prevention and transportation safety.

Himawari-8 is the eighth satellite to incorporate Mitsubishi Electric's original DS2000 satellite platform. Its sister, Himawari-9, is currently being built at the company's Kamakura Works.

When Himawari-9 is launched in 2016, it will mark over 20 years of Mitsubishi Electric's involvement with geostationary meteorological satellites, beginning with MTSAT-2. By 2017, Mitsubishi Electric expects to have produced 15 DS2000 satellites. To date, all DS2000 satellites launched have operated successfully.

Building on this superb track record, Mitsubishi Electric will continue to serve the global commercial satellite market with its ever-increasing family of reliable DS2000 satellites.