Data obtained from the satellite are used for mapping, observing using of natural resources and for scientific research. One of the main tasks of ALOS was mapping Japan and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

ALOS satellite is equipped with a stereo mapping camera (PRISM) to capture images with a resolution of up to 2.5 m, a multispectral camera (AVNIR-2) to capture color images with a resolution of 10 m, as well as an L-band radar (PALSAR) designed for round-the-clock and all-weather Earth observation and to capture images with a resolution of 7 to 100 m.

PALSAR sensor, can change the angle of sight in the range of 8-60 degrees relative to the Nadir, using phased array antennas with 80 modules of reception/transmission. The high-resolution mode is the main operating mode for interferometric observations. The ScanSAR mode provides coverage bands up to 350 km wide with single horizontal (HH) or vertical (VV) polarization. At the same time, the spatial resolution is about 100 m in the longitudinal and transverse directions. The polarization changes in each pulse of the transmitted signal, and signals with double polarization are received together. At a maximum data rate (240 megabits per second), the bandwidth is 30 km and the spatial resolution is 30 m.