Japan launches satellite for better GPS services
The first quasi-zenith satellite Michibiki.(Mainichi)
TANEGASHIMA (Kyodo) -- Japan successfully launched a satellite Saturday to improve car navigation and other services using the global positioning system. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launched the quasi-zenith satellite Michibiki at 8:17 p.m. from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, using an H2A rocket. The 4-ton Michibiki -- 3 meters long, 3 meters wide and 6 meters high -- was separated from the rocket 28 minutes after the launch.
JAXA later said Michibiki was flying smoothly, spreading out the solar battery panel for electricity generation. The launch of the satellite is intended to boost the accuracy and coverage of GPS services in Japan by complementing a U.S. satellite network. Japan's GPS services currently depend on U.S. satellites. But their orbits are not just above Japan and radio waves from those satellites can be hampered by skyscrapers or mountains.
The agency aims to eliminate such blind spots and reduce the margin of error to within 1 meter by putting the Michibiki on an orbit almost just above Japan. But Michibiki will be above Japan for eight hours a day. Two additional satellites are needed to provide 24-hour coverage. The government has yet to have any specific launch plan for the additional satellites. It is expected to work out outline plans by next spring.
Commenting on the successful launch of Michibiki, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said, "This is Japan's first satellite venturing into the field of satellite-based positioning, which is expected to grow internationally, and its use is also expected t be in various areas." "I expect the successful launch to help promote the development and use of space and contribute to economic growth," he said. The government has so far earmarked about 40 billion yen as development costs for Michibiki and some 33.5 billion yen as ground facility and launch costs.
(Mainichi Japan) September 12, 2010
