Japan Launches New Satellite to Improve Navigation System

Japan's space agency says it successfully launched a navigation satellite on its new H-3 rocket.

The latest launch on February 2 took place as the country aims to develop a more precise

positioning system. The H-3 rocket carrying the Mitsubiki-6 satellite lifted off from the

Tanegashima Space Center on a southwestern Japanese island. Makoto Arita oversees the H-3 project for

the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency known as JAXA. Arita said everything went smoothly and

the satellite successfully separated from the rocket as planned about 29 minutes after liftoff.

Officials said it should reach its target orbit around the Earth in the middle of February.

Japan's current system is called the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, or QZSS. It started operating

in 2018 and has four satellites that serve a regional navigation system. The Mitsubiki-6

will be the fifth satellite in the network. Mitsubiki's signals are used to supplement

the American satellite system called the Global Positioning System, or GPS. It will also improve

positioning data for smartphones, car navigation, navigation at sea, and drones. Japan plans to

launch two more navigation satellites to have a seven-satellite system by March 2026. The Japan

Science and Technology Agency hopes that will create a more precise global positioning ability

without depending on foreign services, including GPS. By the late 2030s, Japan plans to have an

11-satellite network. Sunday's launch was the fourth successful flight in a row for the H-3

system. The first attempt to launch last year failed and the rocket had to be destroyed with

its payload. Japan considers the ability to regularly put satellites into orbit as important

to its space program and national security. It has been developing two new leading rockets. One

is the large H-3 from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The other is a much smaller Epsilon system with

the Aerospace Unit of IHI Corporation. Japan hopes to meet the needs of companies for space launch

services and improve its position in the growing satellite launch market. I'm Jill Robbins.