Japan’s H-2A rocket launched a brand new navigation satellite into orbit on Monday (Oct. 25).
The rocket lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan at 10:19 p.m. EDT Monday (0219 GMT, or 11:19 a.m. native time on Tuesday, Oct. 26), in response to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which builds and operates H-2A rockets the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). “It was really beautiful launch,” the corporate tweeted after a profitable liftoff.
The satellite, QZS-1R, is a substitute for the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System 1 satellite first launched in 2010. The official QZSS web site lists four satellites in the constellation: QZS-1, QZS-2, QZS-3 and QZS-4.
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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries confirmed roughly 28 minutes after liftoff that the QZS-R1 satellite had efficiently separated from the rocket’s higher stage
The QZSS constellation will finally encompass a total of seven satellites that fly in an orbit passing by means of a near-zenith (or straight overhead) above Japan, and QZS-R1 is supposed to share practically the identical transmission indicators as current GPS satellites, according to JAXA. It is specifically optimized for mountainous and concrete areas in Japan, JAXA stated.
Mitsubishi Industries launched the satellite on an H-2A 202 rocket. The launch system has been operational since 2003 and has despatched satellites to areas comparable to Venus (Akatsuki) and Mars (Emirates Mars Mission). This was the primary launch of the H2-A since Nov. 29, 2020, when Japan launched an advanced relay satellite with laser communications tech into orbit.
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