- Space Transportation Systems
- Human Space Activities
- Satellites & Spacecraft
- Earth Observation
- « Operation »
- IBUKI (GOSAT)
- DAICHI (ALOS)
- Aqua
- TRMM
- REIMEI (INDEX)
- Akebono (EXOS-D)
- GEOTAIL
- « Development »
- GPM
- GCOM-W
- GCOM-C
- EarthCARE
- ALOS-2
- Communication, Positioning & Engineering Test
- « Operation »
- MICHIBIKI
- KIZUNA (WINDS)
- KIKU-8 (ETS-VIII)
- KODAMA (DRTS)
- AJISAI (EGS)
- Astronomical Observation
- « Operation »
- HINODE (SOLAR-B)
- AKARI (ASTRO-F)
- Suzaku (ASTRO-EII)
- « Development »
- ASTRO-G
- ASTRO-H
- Lunar & Planetary Exploration
- « Operation »
- AKATSUKI (PLANET-C)
- IKAROS
- « Development »
- BepiColombo
- « Completed »
- HAYABUSA (MUSES-C)
- KAGUYA (SELENE)
- Utilization with Satellites
- Space Science Research
- Basic Technology Research
- Aviation Program
- Past Projects
The Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) is a constellation of multiple satellites, with at least one satellite positioned near zenith over Japan at anytime. The QZSS provides high accuracy positioning services covering almost 100 percent of Japan without any interference in urban or mountainous areas. This is a very important national project, in which the research and development is performed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT); the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications (MPHPT); the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI); the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT); as well as related research institutes including JAXA. This program also serves as an international program as it is carried out with cooperation from the Global Positioning System (GPS) in the United States, allowing us to provide positioning services to countries in the Asia/Pacific region.
Because of the global expansion of car navigation systems and cell phones with GPS functions, the convenience of obtaining positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) information from satellites has became indispensable. However, as urban areas in Japan are covered by skyscrapers, the availability of GPS satellites is poor and the positioning accuracy is frequently deteriorating. This can make the system redundant as people might not able to find their way in the city. The answer to such a problem is the QZSS.
The utilization of space-based positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) is expected to be widely applied not only to public services like traffic control and topographical surveys, but also to the improvement of safety in human lives, through navigation systems, security, rescue operations and the prevention of car accidents. As an information base for the nation’s land area, the positioning information will even be applied to fields such as topographical surveys, mapping, transportation, traffic, agriculture and forestry, fishing, construction and security. Thus, space-based PNT technology has infinite possibilities.
Because of the global expansion of car navigation systems and cell phones with GPS functions, the convenience of obtaining positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) information from satellites has became indispensable. However, as urban areas in Japan are covered by skyscrapers, the availability of GPS satellites is poor and the positioning accuracy is frequently deteriorating. This can make the system redundant as people might not able to find their way in the city. The answer to such a problem is the QZSS.
The utilization of space-based positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) is expected to be widely applied not only to public services like traffic control and topographical surveys, but also to the improvement of safety in human lives, through navigation systems, security, rescue operations and the prevention of car accidents. As an information base for the nation’s land area, the positioning information will even be applied to fields such as topographical surveys, mapping, transportation, traffic, agriculture and forestry, fishing, construction and security. Thus, space-based PNT technology has infinite possibilities.
