The Michibiki spacecraft is to replace the very first satellite from a similar series, launched into orbit back in 2010
TOKYO, October 26. /tass/. The Japanese company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on Tuesday launched the H-2A launch vehicle with a new satellite for the global positioning system. A live broadcast of the launch from the Tanegashima cosmodrome in southwestern Kagoshima Prefecture was conducted on the corporation's website.
The device "Michibiki" ("Pointing the Way") should replace the very first satellite from a similar series, launched into orbit back in 2010. The group will still have four satellites, but by 2023 their number is planned to increase to seven.
The peculiarity of the Japanese positioning system, called QZSS, is a high degree of signal encryption. Allegedly, this makes it possible to reliably protect them from interference that can be created by unfriendly States or terrorist organizations. In addition to civilian users, it is planned to completely switch the armed forces and special services of Japan to Michibiki.
It is noted that these satellites are able to determine the coordinates of objects on the Earth's surface in the area of their operation with an error of about 6 cm. In the American GPS, it is about 10 m. A company has already been established in Japan that will offer Michibiki services for automotive navigation, control systems for unmanned vehicles, as well as provide its capabilities to foreign customers.
