Jan 17, 2009 10:10 AM KAGOSHIMA PREFECTURE, JAPAN (NBC)

- Japan’s space agency will launch a satellite next Wednesday that will monitor greenhouse gases and assist in the fight against climate change.

After blast-off, the satellite will go into orbit around the Earth making rounds in less than two hours, and will collect new climate data every three days.

The Japan Aerospace Agency calls the greenhouse satellite the Go-Sat, and says it is able to detect infrared signals absorbed by greenhouse gases.

The satellite is equipped with sensors and can observe the distribution of carbon dioxide and methane.

The satellite is scheduled to be in orbit for five years and preliminary data is expected to be ready for scientists by April or May.

UN climate officials are hoping to work out a new emission treaty by December 2009, but this satellite should help to monitor gases before and after any treaty is signed.

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