Article Posted on : - Sep 27, 2010

Quasi-Zenith Satellite MICHIBIKI

TOKYO (BNS): The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Monday successfully injected MICHIBIKI satellite into its quasi-zenith orbit.

JAXA has controlled the orbit of the first quasi-zenith satellite to insert it into the quasi-zenith orbit from the drift orbit starting on September 21 and the final orbit control operation was performed for about 50 seconds from 0628 am (JST) Monday.

“After the operation, we have confirmed that the satellite was successfully injected into its preordained quasi-zenith orbit with its center longitude of about 135 degrees through the orbit calculation,” a statement released by the agency said.

While the quasi-zenith orbit has the same orbit period of 23 hours and 56 minutes as the geostationary orbit, it can let a satellite stay over Japan longer by taking an elliptical orbit with higher altitude above Japan and flying in a figure-8 orbit.

The MICHIBIKI is the first satellite of the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System to carry out verification for technological aspects and utilization in order to complement and reinforce the GPS.

The satellite is made up of a Solar Array Paddle – to transform sunlight to electric power to provide energy necessary for the satellite, according to reports.

Japan launched the satellite from the Tanegashima Space Center on September 11.