Quasi-Zenith Satellite System

Quasi-Zenith Satellite System

Country/ies of originJapan
Operator(s)Quasi-Zenith Satellite System Services Inc. / Cabinet Office
TypeCivilian
StatusOperational
CoverageRegional
AccuracyPNT <10 m (public)
SLAS <1 m (public)
CLAS <10 cm (public)
Constellation size
Nominal satellites7
Current usable satellites4
First launch11 September 2010
Last launch26 October 2021
Total launches5
Orbital characteristics
Regime(s)3x GSO
Other details
CostJPY 170 billion
Websiteqzss.go.jp/en/
Quasi-Zenith satellite orbit
QZSS animation, the "Quasi-Zenith/tundra orbit" plot is clearly visible.

The Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), also known as Michibiki (みちびき), is a four-satellite regional satellite navigation system and a satellite-based augmentation system developed by the Japanese government to enhance the United States-operated Global Positioning System (GPS) in the Asia-Oceania regions, with a focus on Japan.[1] The goal of QZSS is to provide highly precise and stable positioning services in the Asia-Oceania region, compatible with GPS.[2] Four-satellite QZSS services were available on a trial basis as of 12 January 2018,[3] and officially started on 1 November 2018.[4] A satellite navigation system independent of GPS is planned for 2023 with seven satellites.[5][6] In May 2023 it was announced that the system would expand to eleven satellites.[7]

  1. ^ "Quasi-Zenith Satellite Orbit (QZO)". Archived from the original on 9 March 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  2. ^ "[Movie] Quasi-Zenith Satellite System "QZSS"". Quasi-Zenith Satellite System(QZSS). Archived from the original on 15 July 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  3. ^ "Start of QZS-4 Trial Service". Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS). Archived from the original on 10 August 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  4. ^ "Japan's QZSS service now officially available". 26 November 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Japan mulls seven-satellite QZSS system as a GPS backup". SpaceNews. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  6. ^ Kriening, Torsten (23 January 2019). "Japan Prepares for GPS Failure with Quasi-Zenith Satellites". SpaceWatch.Global. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  7. ^ Kawahara, Satoshi (8 May 2023). "Japan plans expansion of homegrown GPS network to 11 satellites". Nikkei Asia.