The Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) on the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) core satellite was
developed by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and National Institute of Information and Communications
Technology (NICT). The objective of the GPM mission is to observe global precipitation more frequently and accurately.
The GPM core satellite is a joint product of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), JAXA and NICT.
NASA developed the satellite bus and the GPM Microwave Imager (GMI), and JAXA and NICT developed the DPR.
The inclination of the GPM core satellite is 65 degrees, and the nominal flight altitude is 407 km. The non-sunsynchronous
circular orbit is necessary for measuring the diurnal change of rainfall. The DPR consists of two radars,
which are Ku-band precipitation radar (KuPR) and Ka-band precipitation radar (KaPR). GPM core observatory was
successfully launched by H2A launch vehicle on Feb. 28, 2014. DPR orbital check out was completed in May 2014.
DPR products were released to the public on Sep. 2, 2014 and Normal Observation Operation period was started. JAXA
is continuing DPR trend monitoring, calibration and validation operations to confirm that DPR keeps its function and
performance on orbit. The results of DPR trend monitoring, calibration and validation show that DPR kept its function
and performance on orbit during the 3 years and 2 months prime mission period. The DPR Prime mission period was
completed in May 2017. The version 5 GPM products were released to the public in 2017. JAXA confirmed that
GPM/DPR total system performance and the GPM version 5 products achieved the success criteria and the performance
indicators that were defined for the JAXA GPM/DPR mission.
|