JISS - national name "Ume". Spin-stabilized; Ionospheric Sounder, Radio Noise Receiver, Plasma Measuring Equipment, Ion Mass Spectrometer, and other instruments. The satellites were intended for regular observation of global distribution of critical frequencies of the ionosphere, and for utilization of the results of the observation for radio wave forecasts and warning necessary for effective operation of short-wave radio-communication. Shape: cylindrical, 3.9m diameter and 0.8m height. Expected life: probability of survival in 1.5 years was more than 70 percent.

Total Length: 3.9 m. Maximum Diameter: 0.8 m. Total Mass: 141 kg.

Ionospheric sounding. Japanese Ionospheric Sounding Satellite (JISS - national name 'Ume') is intended for regular observations by means of radio waves of the global distribution of the critical frequencies of the ionosphere, and for utilization of the results of the observati on for radio wave forecasts and warning necessary for effective operation of short-wave radio-communication. Time of launch 0330UT.

Ionospheric sounding. Ionosphere Sounding Satellite-b . Launch time 0400 UT. Launch vehicle: N number 4. Spin-stabilized; Ionospheric Sounder, Radio Noise Receiver, Plasma Measuring Equipment, Ion Mass Spectrometer, and so on. The satellite is intended for regular observation of global distribution of critical frequencies of the ionosphere by means of radio waves. Weight about 141 kg. Shape: cylindrical, 3.9m diameter and 0.8m height. Expected life: probability of survival in 1.5 years is more than 70 percent.

• 2 - McDowell, Jonathan, The United Nations Registry of Space Objects, Harvard University, 1997. HTML when accessed: http://hea-www.harvard.edu/QEDT/jcm/space/un/un.html
• 6 - JPL Mission and Spacecraft Library, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1997. HTML when accessed: http://msl.jpl.nasa.gov/home.html
• 279 - McDowell, Jonathan, Launch Log, October 1998. HTML when accessed: http://hea-www.harvard.edu/~jcm/space/log/launch.html