Japan’s navigation satellite
In a nation crowded with mountains and skyscrapers, signals from navigation satellites sent to Global Positioning System devices on the ground, such as those in car navigation systems, are sometimes blocked by obstacles that make it difficult for the devices to accurately determine their locations.
However, Saturday’s planned launch of Japan’s first navigation satellite is expected to solve the problem, at least partly, as the so-called quasi-zenith satellite would spend significant time above Japan.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has been preparing to launch Michibiki (a name that means “guidance” in Japanese) to cover the blind spots left by the 30 U.S. navigation satellites that are the foundation of the existing GPS system. This would enable people using GPS locator-equipped cell phones and car navigation systems in this country to receive more accurate information. (…)
Toshiaki Sato / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer (http://www.yomiuri.co.jp)
Source: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/
