The Japanese Ministry of Transport and the Japanese Meteorological Agency have begun their procurement of a second satellite in their new series of MTSat combined air traffic control and weather satellites.

Proposals for the second satellite, designated as MTSat 2, are due on June 19 at 5 p.m. in Tokyo. The satellite is to be delivered by May 31, 2004. The procurement was announced in the Japanese government’s official gazette on April 28.