Tokyo – Japan’s space administration announced on Sunday that it has successfully launched a navigation satellite using its latest H3 rocket, marking a significant step towards enhancing its own precise location positioning system.
The H3 rocket, which carried the Michibiki 6 satellite, took off from the Tanegashima Space Center located on one of Japan’s southwestern islands.
According to Makoto Arita, the H3 project manager at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the mission went as planned, with the satellite separating successfully from the rocket approximately 29 minutes after liftoff.
Officials project that the satellite will reach its designated geospatial orbit within about two weeks.
Currently, Japan operates the quasi-zenith satellite system (QZSS), which includes four satellites and began operations in 2018. The Michibiki 6 will join this network, becoming the fifth satellite.
The signals from the Michibiki satellites are intended to enhance the functionality of American GPS, providing improved positioning accuracy for smartphones, automotive navigation, maritime operations, and drone usage.
To bolster its global positioning capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign services, including those from the United States, Japan plans to add two more navigation satellites, aiming for a total of seven satellites by March 2026. According to the Japan Science and Technology Agency, plans are in place for an 11-satellite network by the late 2030s.
The successful launch on Sunday, which was postponed by a day due to inclement weather, represents the fourth successful flight of the H3 system following a disappointing initial launch attempt last year, in which the rocket was destroyed along with its payload.
Japan views a reliable and competitive space launch capability as crucial for its space initiatives and national security. The country is working on developing two new flagship rocket systems as successors to the established H2A series – the larger H3 and a smaller Epsilon variant. These developments aim to address a wide array of customer requirements and to enhance Japan’s standing in the increasing global satellite launch market.
