Japan plans to establish a network of four satellites in the latter half of this decade to improve the accuracy of its global positioning system, government officials said Friday. In the future, Japan will set up a network of seven "quasi-zenith" satellites to set up a GPS system independent of the one operated by the United States, the officials said. Read more
Launch of the First Quasi-Zenith Satellite "MICHIBIKI" by H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 18 H-IIA F18) from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Tanegashima Space Centre, at 8:17:00 p.m. on September 11, 2010 (Japan Standard Time, JST).
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announces that it began transmission of all the positioning signals from the Quasi-zenith Satellite Michibki on October 26. Following the transmission of the L1-SAIF signal from the L1-SAIF antenna aboard the Quasi-zenith Satellite Michibki on October 19, the other positioning signals (L1-C/A, L2C, L5, L1C, and LEX) were also transmitted from the Michibkis L-band helical antenna, JAXA reports. Read more
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has controlled the orbit of the First Quasi-Zenith Satellite "MICHIBIKI" to insert it into the quasi-zenith orbit from the drift orbit starting on September 21 (Japan Standard Time, JST), and the final orbit control operation was performed for about 50 seconds from 6:28 a.m. on September 27 (JST.) After the operation, we have confirmed that the satellite was successfully injected into its preordained quasi-zenith orbit with its center longitude of about 135 degrees through the orbit calculation. Finalised Orbit Apogee altitude 38,950km Perigee altitude 32,618 km Orbit inclination 41.0 degrees Period 23 hours 56 minutes Drift rate 0.03 degrees/day (to the east direction)
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the first Quasi-Zenith Satellite "MICHIBIKI" by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 18 (H-IIA F18) at 8:17:00 p.m. on September 11, 2010 (Japan Standard Time, JST) from the Tanegashima Space Centre. The launch vehicle flew smoothly, and, at about 28 minutes and 27 seconds after liftoff, the separation of the MICHIBIKI was confirmed. Source JAXA
New Launch Day of the First Quasi-Zenith Satellite 'MICHIBIKI'
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency have announced the postponement of the launch of the First Quasi-Zenith Satellite "MICHIBIKI" by H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 18 H-IIA F18) on June 23, 2010 (Japan Standard Time) due to a potential concern in the onboard reaction wheels of the MICHIBIKI following notification from an overseas manufacturer.
Scheduled new date of launch: September 11 (Saturday) 2010 (Japan Standard Time) Launch time: 8:17 p.m. thru 9:16 p.m. (Japan Standard Time) Launch windows: September 12 (Sunday) through September 30 (Thursday), 2010 * Launch time will be set for each launch day if the launch is delayed. Launch site: Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Tanegashima Space Centre.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) decided to postpone the launch of the first Quasi-Zenith Satellite "MICHIBIKI" by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 18 (H-IIA F18) from the Tanegashima Space Center, which was originally scheduled for August 2, 2010. The new launch date will be announced as soon as it is determined.
Japan postponed the launch of a rocket carrying the Michibiki satellite because of concerns over a component produced by an overseas supplier, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said. Read more