About Quasi-Zenith Satellite-1 "MICHIBIKI"
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Quasi-zenith Satellite System (QZSS) watching Japan from aboveAs mobile phones equipped with car navigation or GPS (*1) have become widespread, positioning information using satellites is imperative to our lives. To specify a location, we need to receive signals from at least four satellites. However, in some urban or mountainous areas, positioning signals from four satellites are often hampered by kyscrapers or mountains, and that has often caused significant errors. |
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Furthermore, the QZSS aims at improving positioning accuracy of one meter to the centimeter level compared to the conventional GPS error of tens of meters by transmitting support signals and through other means. Launch date: September 11, 2010 |
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Project Topics
indexQZS-1 off to the Cabinet Office's Control
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On February 28, 2017, JAXA discontinues the operation of QZS-1, the First Quasi-Zenith Satellite MICHIBIKI. Control will be transferred to the Cabinet Office. For details, please refer to: ... |
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Press Release
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- December 15, 2010 (15:30)
- First Quasi-Zenith Satellite MICHIBIKI Technical Verification and Application Verification
Characteristics of Quasi-Zenith Satellite-1 "MICHIBIKI"
Future improvement by the QZSS
Some of you who usually use car navigation may feel that the current system has enough functionality. However, the satellite positioning system is not just for car navigation. It is imperative for mapping, measurements for construction work, monitoring services for children and senior citizens, automatic control of agricultural machinery, detecting earthquakes and volcanic activities, weather forecasting and many other applicable fields. Therefore, an improvement in accuracy and reliability is called for from various areas. New service using more accurate positioning data may be born when positioning accuracy is further improved by the QZSS thus we can capture location information with an error of within one meter. |
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Future MICHIBIKI activity
The MICHIBIKI was launched by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 18 on September 11, 2010. After being injected into the quasi-zenith orbit, the MICHIBIKI is now under a three-month initial functional verification. Then, its technical and application verification will be carried out in cooperation with concerned organizations. (During the verification, we can receive signals from the MICHIBIKI. However, in the early stage, we will place an alert flag as we verify the accuracy of information contained in its signals. To use the MICHIBIKI, please use a special receiver, which is specially processed to not exclude MICHIBIKI data from your positioning calculation even though an alert flag is in effect. In addition, please be aware that positioning accuracy may deteriorate compared to that using only the GPS.) |
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Major Characteristics
International Designation Code | 2010-045A |
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Launch Date | 20:17, September 11, 2010 (JST) |
Launch Vehicle | H-IIA Launch Vehicle No.18 |
Location | Tanegashima Space Center |
Shape | 2 box shape with wing-type solar array paddles 2.9m in depth x 3.1m in width x 6.2m in height (Length between the tips of the paddles: 25.3m) |
Weight | Approx. 4000kg |
Orbiter | Quasi-Zenith Orbit |
Altitude | Approx. 32000 - 40000km |
Inclination | Approx. 40 degrees |
Period | 23 hours 56 minutes |