Azernews.Az

By Alimat Aliyeva

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has successfully launched the sixth satellite of Japan’s Michibiki (QZSS) regional navigation system into orbit, AzerNEWS reports.

The satellite was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center aboard an H3 heavy-lift rocket. The launch was broadcast live on JAXA’s website.

The latest success comes after a setback last December, when an attempt to launch another satellite in the series failed due to the premature shutdown of the rocket’s second stage. The subsequent launch was postponed several times.

Japan currently has six Michibiki satellites in orbit, while at least seven are considered necessary for stable operation of the system. QZSS works alongside the US GPS network, improving positioning accuracy, particularly across Japan and parts of the Asia-Pacific region.

By the mid-2030s, Japan plans to expand the constellation to 11 satellites. The goal is to strengthen the country’s independent positioning capabilities, reduce reliance on GPS and potentially expand the use of QZSS throughout the Asia-Pacific.

One of QZSS’s key advantages is its ability to provide highly accurate positioning signals, including services designed to remain reliable in challenging environments. The system is also strategically important for Japan’s defense and security infrastructure.

An interesting detail: QZSS satellites are designed to spend much of their time at a high angle over Japan. This is especially useful in cities, where tall buildings can block signals from conventional navigation satellites.

Under ideal conditions, Japan’s high-precision positioning services can achieve centimeter-level accuracy, far beyond the accuracy normally available from standard civilian GPS.

With its expanding satellite constellation, Japan is effectively building a more independent navigation infrastructure — one that could become increasingly important for everything from autonomous vehicles and precision agriculture to disaster response and national security.