ABB of Quebec City, Quebec, received a contract to supply the primary components for a Japanese satellite that will measure greenhouse gases in support of the Kyoto protocol, ABB recently announced.

Under the Cdn. $10 million ($8.3 million) contract from NEC-Toshiba Space Systems, ABB will supply the Michelson interferometer of the Fourier Transform Spectrometer for Japan’s Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite. The instrument will collect data up to 30 times per day that will be used to chart and evaluate carbon dioxide and methane levels in the atmosphere.

NEC-Toshiba Space Systems is the primary equipment supplier for the spacecraft, which is being funded by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA), the National Institute for Environmental Studies and Japan’s Ministry of Environment.

The satellite is scheduled to be launched in 2008 by JAXA, which manages the space program for the Japanese government, which has not assigned it to a specific vehicle.