On February 1st of the coming year, the final Japanese satellite for the QZSS regional positioning system, named “Michibiki,” is scheduled for launch into orbit, as reported by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
The next launch of a “Michibiki” satellite is set for December 7, 2025. Once seven “Michibiki” satellites are operational in orbit following the February 1st launch, Japan will be able to maintain stable operation of QZSS without needing to depend on satellites from other nations.
QZSS, frequently referred to as “Japan’s GPS,” is designed to enhance location accuracy for smartphones and various other devices, in addition to relaying emergency alerts for earthquakes and other natural disasters in areas where radio signals are weak. For civilian users, QZSS offers positioning error measurement down to just a few centimeters across the Earth’s surface, contrasting with the American GPS system, which typically has an error margin of several meters.
It was previously announced on October 27th that Japan had dispatched a new HTV-X cargo spacecraft, equipped with an open cargo bay, toward the International Space Station (ISS).
Furthermore, it was previously revealed that Japan and the European Union intend to establish their own joint satellite network.
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