TANEGASHIMA SPACE CENTER, Japan - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and JAXA successfully launched H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 36 (H-IIA F36) carrying the fourth Quasi-Zenit Satellite System (QZSS-4 or MICHIBIKI 4). Launch occurred on October 10, 2017 at 7:01 a.m. JST (October 9 at 10:01 p.m. UTC; 6:01 p.m. EDT) from the Tanegashima Space Center.
The launch and flight of H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 36 proceeded as planned and the separation of the satellite was confirmed at approximately 28 minutes and 20 seconds after liftoff.
MICHIBIKI No. 4 is the fourth and final satellite in the Quasi-Zenith satellite constellation. The QZSS constellation is satellites designed to supplement GPS signals over Japan. GPS users suffer from high mountains and high-rise buildings throughout Japan that disrupt GPS signals. Japanese experts believe that the Quasi-Zenith satellites will improve coverage from about 90 percent availability currently available to about 99.8 percent availability. QZSS will also improve accuracy over Japan and surrounding regions.
Historically, the H-IIA has relied heavily on the Japanese government for sales. JAXA and MHI would like to increase international commercial sales going forward. To meet the goal of increasing international commercial orders, MHI and JAXA are implementing an upgrade program to improve the marketability of the H-II. Under that program, the shock transferred to a payload during separation from the upper stage is being reduced, and the mass to orbit capability is being increased.
Eventually, the H-II will be replaced by a newer launch vehicle. But production of the H-II is expected to continue through the early 2020s.
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