Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced on the 15th that it will launch the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System “Michibiki No. 7” via the H3 rocket Flight 9 from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on August 7. The launch window is set between 4:30 and 6:00 a.m. that day. The “Michibiki” system, known as the Japanese version of GPS, provides positioning services via satellite radio waves for smartphones, car navigation systems, and more. The Japanese government aims to expand the current constellation of 5 satellites to 7, achieving stable positioning services independent of other countries.
The launch was originally scheduled for this February but was postponed after the H3 rocket Flight 8 failed to place “Michibiki No. 5” into its intended orbit in December last year. The root cause of the incident was identified as damage to the connection part of the satellite’s base. After repairs were completed, the H3 rocket Flight 6 launched successfully on the 12th of this month, laying the groundwork for Flight 9’s scheduled liftoff. If this mission is successful, it will still take several years to fully establish the 7-satellite constellation.