# GCOM-C (Shikisai)
*missions*

## Specifications
- **operator**: jaxa
- **launch vehicle**: jaxa-h-iia
- **actual launch**: 2017-12-23
- **current status**: extended
- **orbit type**: Sun-synchronous orbit, 798 km altitude, 98.6 deg inclination, 10:30 descending local time
- **swath km**: 1000
- **revisit days**: 2
- **tasking supported**: false
- **archive depth years**: 7
- **current geographic priority**: global climate observations across ocean, land, atmosphere, snow and ice
- **entity type**: mission
- **last verified date**: 2026-06-14
- **verified by**: agency-doc
- **claim status**: agency-sourced
- **provider**: jaxa
- **attributes**: {"operator":"jaxa","launch_vehicle":"jaxa-h-iia","actual_launch":"2017-12-23","current_status":"extended","orbit_type":"Sun-synchronous orbit, 798 km altitude, 98.6 deg inclination, 10:30 descending local time","swath_km":1000,"revisit_days":2,"tasking_supported":false,"archive_depth_years":7,"current_geographic_priority":"global climate observations across ocean, land, atmosphere, snow and ice"}
- **relevance**: in-scope

## Editorial
GCOM-C (Shikisai, Global Change Observation Mission - Climate) is a Japanese climate-observation satellite operated by JAXA, launched on 2017-12-23 by H-IIA into a sun-synchronous orbit at 798 km altitude with a 10:30 descending local time.[^jaxa-gcom-c-summary][^wmo-gcom-c] The mission carries the Second-generation Global Imager (SGLI), a multi-channel passive imaging radiometer with visible, near-infrared, shortwave infrared, thermal infrared, and multi-angle polarisation channels spanning a 1000 km swath with an approximately 2-day global revisit.[^jaxa-gcom-c-instruments][^jaxa-sgli-products] GCOM-C provides long-term global observations of ocean colour and water-leaving radiance for marine primary productivity assessments, sea surface temperature retrieval, vegetation index mapping for land and crop applications, and multi-angle polarimetric aerosol characterisation relevant to air quality monitoring.[^jaxa-gcom-c-topics][^jaxa-sgli-products] The mission is currently in an extended operational phase beyond its nominal 5-year design life.[^jaxa-gcom-c-summary][^wmo-gcom-c]

## Compositional position
- GCOM-C (Shikisai) --[mission_payloads]--> sgli (products)
- GCOM-C (Shikisai) --[related-topic]--> coastal-water-quality (topics)
- GCOM-C (Shikisai) --[related-topic]--> marine-primary-production (topics)
- GCOM-C (Shikisai) --[related-topic]--> crop-phenology (topics)
- GCOM-C (Shikisai) --[related-topic]--> air-quality (topics)

## Sources
- [jaxa-gcom-c-topics] | GCOM-C project topics and data release, JAXA | https://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/gcom_c/topics.html | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-14
- [jaxa-gcom-c-summary] | GCOM-C specification and products, JAXA EORC | https://suzaku.eorc.jaxa.jp/GCOM_C/about/summary.html | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-14
- [jaxa-gcom-c-instruments] | GCOM-C instruments, JAXA EORC | https://suzaku.eorc.jaxa.jp/GCOM_C/instruments/index.html | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-14
- [jaxa-sgli-products] | SGLI channel specification and products, JAXA EORC | https://suzaku.eorc.jaxa.jp/GCOM_C/instruments/product.html | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-14
- [wmo-gcom-c] | WMO OSCAR satellite record: GCOM-C | https://space.oscar.wmo.int/satellites/view/gcom_c | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-14

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Source: https://eo-atlas.org/missions/gcom-c
Maintainer: SpectraWorks B.V. (CC-BY 4.0)