Engineering Test Satellite VI (ETS-VI)

The Engineering Test Satellite-VI (ETS-VI) is being developed as the third Japanese three-axis stabilized engineering test satellite to establish the 2-ton geostationary operational satellite bus system and to demonstrate the high performance satellite communication technology for future operational satellites. The satellite is expected to be stationed at 154 deg east latitude. It will be launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan by a type H-II launch vehicle. The Deep Space Network (DSN) will support the prelaunch compatibility test, data interface verification testing, and launch rehersals. The DSN primary support period is from launch through the final AEF plus 1 hour. Contingency support is from final AEF plus 1 hour until launch plus 1 month. The coverage will consist of all the 26-m antennas as prime and the 34-m antennas at Madrid and Canberra as backup. Maximum support will consist of two 8-hour tracks per station for a 7-day period, plus the contingency support, if required. Information is given in tabular form for DSN support, telemetry, command, and tracking support responsibility

Broadcasting Satellite-3A and -3B (BS-3A and 3B)

The BS-3A and -3B will provide direct color TV broadcasting to the Japanese mainland and remote islands. The satellites will be launched from Tanegashima Space Center by a type H-1 launch vehicle. The coverage will consist of the 26-m antenna and the 34-m antenna as a backup support for the transfer and drift orbits. Maximum support will consist of one 8-hour track per station for a seven day period, plus 23 days of contingency support from all complexes. Information is given in tabular form for Deep Space Network support, frequency assignments, telemetry, command, and tracking support responsibility

The Role of Terraced Paddy Fields and Its Critical Issues in Sustaining a Mountainous Tropical Monsoon Rural Community: Case Study of Malasari Village, Bogor Regency, Indonesia

Terraced paddy fields play an important role not only in the food production function, but also in flooding control, water source recharge, and soil erosion and landslide prevention in mountainous area. Abandonment has been occurring in many countries due to natural condition climate, low-productive, less economic condition, depopulation, aging, and poor work efficiency. However, the terraced fields in Malasari village, Bogor Regency are relatively sustained and constantly maintained by traditional local farmers. Therefore, this study aims to seek keys to how to maintain of the terraced paddy fields by local farmers in Malasari village. The survey was conducted from October 2019 to January 2020 on Malasari village (6°40’S and 106°31’E) by using primary and secondary data with a sample of 28 households. Questionnaire survey was conducted to elicit primary data on farmer’s basic information. Verification of land cover in Malasari village was carried out by visual interpretation land cover in images obtained from drone image in 2019. The terraced paddy fields have been maintained by local farmers contentiously. Two factors are discovered maintained the terraced paddy fields, namely: (1) the local wisdom technique is an act that has direct influences on the physical structure of terraced paddy fields for maintaining, especially land management which is plowing and making levee are playing an important role, and (2) social capital is an act that has indirect influences on the terraced paddy fields. These factors interact with each other to maintain the terraced paddy fields

Effects of clearcutting and girdling on soil respiration and fluxes of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen in a Japanese cedar plantation

Impacts of forest management practices on soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics remain under debate due to complex interactions between belowground biogeochemical processes. To optimize practices that minimize soil C and N losses, we investigated the effects of management practices on soil C and N fluxes, including the leaching of dissolved organic C (DOC) and N, by comparing clearcutting, stem girdling (removal of the bark and phloem tissue), and control treatments in a Japanese cedar plantation. Canopy opening by clearcutting is hypothesized to have a greater effect on soil C loss and the leaching of nitrate-N relative to girdling. Results showed that clearcutting increased soil heterotrophic respiration (organic matter decomposition) and lead to a loss of soil organic C (2.9–3.7 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). Higher litter inputs from girdled tree dieback caused an increase in DOC fluxes from the organic horizon, whereas the loss of fresh litter inputs decreased DOC fluxes from the organic horizon following clearcutting. Clearcutting increased nitrate-N leaching by 3.3–4.8 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ due to the loss of plant N uptake and the increased mineralization of soil organic matter, but high C/N ratios in dissolved organic matter limited nitrate leaching in the girdled treatment. Effects of forest management practices on soil C loss and nitrate leaching loss could be variable, but the slash application in clearcutting and the slow dieback in stem girdling could mitigate soil C loss and nitrate leaching loss