QZSS 1 (Michibiki)

Spacecraft n°:

Japanese spacecraft n°: 167

Launch data: Designation  37158 / 10045A Launch date  11 Sep 2010 - 11:17 UT Launch site  Tanegashima, YLP-1 Launch vehicle  H-2A-202 Mission  Government: Navigation Geostationary orbit on Sep 14.48: Perigee / Apogee  35869 x 35965 km Eccentricity  0.001 Inclination  40.97 deg Period  1442.80 min

Spacecraft data: Prime contractor  Mitsubishi Electric (MELCO) Platform   Operator  Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Mass at launch  4100 kg Dry Mass  1800 kg Basic shape  Box + 2 panels Dimension (m)  2.9 x 3.1 x 6.2 Equipment   Solar array  25.3 span Stabilization   Propulsion   DC power   Design lifetime  > million years - still active <

Mission details:

• First in three-satellite constellation for navigation.
• Japan's first Quasi-Zenith Satellite System craft (Jun tenchou eisei shogou ki, QZSS 1), was launched on Sep 11, 2010. QZSS 1 is named 'Michibiki' ('guiding light'). It carries an L-band navigation payload to augment GPS and a C-band payload for communications; the satellite's special inclined geosynchronous orbit will spend time directly overhead Japan, providing a better signal to receivers whose view of GEO satellites on the southern horizon is blocked by tall buildings. The satellite is 4100 kg wet, 1800 kg dry and was built by Mitsubishi Electric (MELCO) at Kamakura. The satellite is controlled by JAXA from a ground station on Okinawa.
• The H-IIA rocket put QZSS in a roughly 280 x 280 km x 31.8 deg parking orbit at 1129 UTC; after a second burn at 1141 UTC the satellite was deployed into a 280 x 35336 km x 31.8 deg path; the on board engine was then used to circularize the trajectory and increase the inclination.By Sep 20 Michibiki was in a 32065 x 38982 km x 41.0 deg orbit with a period of 23h 42min.