Post date: Sep 06, 2010 11:1:59 PM
Japan launches the first in a series of home-grown GPS satellites, intended to improve accuracy in the country.
TANEGASHIMA, JAPAN (SEPTEMBER 11, 2010) JAXA - Japan launched its own Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite on Saturday (September 11), hoping to improve accuracy in Japan and surrounding regions.
The satellite "Michibiki", which means "to lead" in Japanese, was launched aboard one of Japan's H-IIA rockets from the Tanegashima Space Center.
Michibiki is designed to complement the existing GPS system but will stay in a 'quasi-zenith orbit', meaning it will have a high elevation angle which will prevent tall buildings blocking the satellite's signal. It will allow the satellite to stay almost directly above Japan for eight hours a day.
The final system will involve three satellites to provide full coverage 24-hours a day, although launch dates for the remaining two satellites have yet to be decided.
Once the system is fully functional, it is expected that it will improve GPS accuracy in Japan from its current rate of approximately 10 (32 feet) metres to one metre (3.2 feet) or possibly less.
The launch marks the 12th successful launch in a row for the Japanese Space Agency's (JAXA) H-IIA rocket.