After five years of service, the satellite lost power and ceased communication with Earth, but remains in orbit.

The satellite contained three sensors that were used for cartography and disaster monitoring of Asia and the Pacific Ocean.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) initially hoped to be able to launch the successor to ALOS during 2011, but this plan did not materialize.

[7][8][9] Images of the devastated Japanese coast following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami were among the last major contributions from ALOS.

[10][11] In April 2011, the satellite was found to have switched itself into power-saving mode due to deterioration of its solar arrays.