Japan launches GPS augmentation spacecraft
Posted: Sun, Sep 12, 2010, 2:23 PM ET (1823 GMT)
An H-2A rocket successfully launched on Saturday the first in a planned series of spacecraft to augment GPS navigation signals over Japan. The H-2A rocket lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan at 7:17 am EDT (1117 GMT, 8:17 pm local time) on Saturday and placed the first Quasi-Zenith Satellite, called Michibiki, into a transfer orbit 28 minutes later. The 4,000-kilogram satellite will operate from an inclined near-geosynchonous orbit that will appear to trace out a lopsided figure-eight on the sky as seen from the ground. The unusual orbit will allow the spacecraft to appear at higher elevations in the sky from Japan than a conventional geosynchronous satellite. Michibiki is the first in a planned series of spacecraft that will broadcast signals intended to improve the accuracy of the GPS system for users in Japan.
An H-2A rocket successfully launched on Saturday the first in a planned series of spacecraft to augment GPS navigation signals over Japan. The H-2A rocket lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan at 7:17 am EDT (1117 GMT, 8:17 pm local time) on Saturday and placed the first Quasi-Zenith Satellite, called Michibiki, into a transfer orbit 28 minutes later. The 4,000-kilogram satellite will operate from an inclined near-geosynchonous orbit that will appear to trace out a lopsided figure-eight on the sky as seen from the ground. The unusual orbit will allow the spacecraft to appear at higher elevations in the sky from Japan than a conventional geosynchronous satellite. Michibiki is the first in a planned series of spacecraft that will broadcast signals intended to improve the accuracy of the GPS system for users in Japan.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, February 5
Sidus Space Announces LizzieSat Has Arrived at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California for Launch
Business Wire — 6:07 am ET (1107 GMT) Rocket Lab Signs Multi-Launch Contract with iQPS for Four Electron Missions
Rocket Lab — 6:05 am ET (1105 GMT) First Irish astronaut Norah Patten had ‘no road map’ for space dreams – but she paved the path herself
Irish Star — 6:04 am ET (1104 GMT) SpaceX launches Maxar 3 mission, high-resolution commercial satellites
UPI — 6:02 am ET (1102 GMT) UAE joins forces with European space company to develop airlock for Nasa lunar station
The National (UAE) — 5:59 am ET (1059 GMT) |
