13 Sep, 2010
Congratulations on Success in Launch of the First Quasi-Zenith Satellite "MICHIBIKI"
At 20:17 on September 11, 2010 (Saturday) Quasi-Zenith Satellite-1 ”MICHIBIKI” was successfully launched from the Tanegashima Space Center by H2A rocket No. 18.
The "MICHIBIKI" flies right above Japan to raise the accuracy of the positioning information, and so far it has been depending on the US satellite positioning system (GPS). By this launch the first domestic "GPS Satellite" made its debut. The positioning information by the satellite is such as car navigation system or mobile telephone with the GPS function, which are indispensable to our everyday life. In urban cities and mountains, errors are produced due to the electric wave is hard to reach among buildings or mountains and the reflection. It is aiming at the cancellation of such situation.
For the “MICHIBIKI” Meisei Electric installed 3 units of monitor camera, which have been manufactured for “KIZUNA” and “IBUKI” in the past. Also Technical Data Acquisition Equipment (TEDA), which Meisei Electric has manufactured for “DAICHI” and “IBUKI”, was installed as well. Among 3 monitor cameras, 2 of them identify the deployment of the solar battery paddle, and another one photographs the earth by the newly developed lens to grasp the changes of the posture of the satellite main body.
The TEDA consists of lepton monitor and magnetometer sensor, and acquires the data helping evaluation of anomaly and cause investigation by the radioactive rays of satellite on-board instrument and it is equipped to reflect to the satellite design.
The Quasi-Zenith Satellite “MICHIBIKI” as a new guidepost is expected to carry completely the tasks.
