 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Tokyo (UPI) Sep 28, 2010 Japan's first navigation satellite will improve positioning coverage in mountainous terrain and urban centers, authorities say. The country's space agency announced the Michibiki satellite entered its orbit Monday over Asia. Michibiki, which means "guiding" or "showing the way" in Japanese, will undergo three months of technology tests before it enters service. Michibiki blasted off Sept. 11 from the Tanegashima Space Center, reaching a temporary orbit 30 minutes after launch. Controllers fired the satellite's main engine five times over the next six days to reach its prescribed orbital altitude. Japan's satellite navigation program is intended to augment signals from the U.S. Air Force's Global Positioning System, a network of 30 spacecraft circling 11,000 miles above Earth. A GPS terminal on the ground needs four satellites to compute position, but skyscrapers and mountains in Japan often block line-of-sight signals from spacecraft low in the sky. Japan hopes that by launching up to three of its own satellites strategically positioned high in the sky over the country, their signals will not be impeded by man-made or natural terrain. Officials will look at results from Michibiki before committing to launching the next two satellites.
Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links GPS Applications, Technology and Suppliers
Rush Trucking Selects SkyBitz To Increase Security And Asset EfficiencySterling VA (SPX) Sep 29, 2010 SkyBitz has announced that Rush Trucking has chosen SkyBitz as their trailer tracking solution for their fleet. In just six months, Rush Trucking has already experienced benefits from using the SkyBitz Gemini Series GLS400 to recover 3 stolen trailers. Rush Trucking was alerted when the trailers moved outside the electronic fence they set up, which allowed them to quickly react and recover ... read more |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2010 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Google
Facebook
