Japan launches sovereign satellite navigation network as GPS cannot reach all of its country
Japan expands sovereign satellite navigation capability with QZS-7, completing a seven-satellite constellation designed around challenging domestic geography.
Japan has launched a sovereign satellite navigation system called Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) to combat issues with GPS signal obstruction in its mountainous terrain and densely populated cities. The seven-satellite constellation aims to provide near-constant coverage and sharper location accuracy across the archipelago.
The latest satellite, QZS-7, successfully reached its intended orbit early Tuesday aboard an H3 rocket, marking a milestone for Japan's satellite navigation efforts. The H3 rocket, Japan's newest mid-range launcher, had a troubled history with two out of nine missions failing. The constellation was designed to supplement GPS coverage, as Japan's islands span latitudes between 20° and 45° North, a range too wide for a single geostationary satellite to cover.
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