Article Posted on : - Sep 20, 2010

Japanese quasi-zenith satellite MICHIBIKI. JAXA photo

TOKYO (BNS): The attitude control mode of the first quasi-zenith satellite MICHIBIKI has been shifted to the regular control mode, Japanese space agency JAXA said.

The space agency said it will take about a week to shift the MICHIBIKI from the drift orbit to the quasi-zenith orbit and three months to carry out initial functional verification of the onboard devices.

The satellite launched on September 11 from the Tanegashima Space Center was injected into its drift orbit - the orbit that is one step before getting into the quasi-zenith satellite – after five apogee engine firings, JAXA said.

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, reports said.