QZS-5

Last updated
QZS-5
Qzs-5+bg 01.png
Artist's rendering of QZS-5 in orbit
Mission type Navigation
Operator CAO
Website https://qzss.go.jp/
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeQZS Block III-Q [1]
Bus DS2000
Manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric
Launch mass4.8t
Dry mass2.0t
Payload mass647kg [2]
Power6.7kW
Start of mission
Launch date2025  UTC (Planned)
Rocket H3-22S
Launch site Tanegashima, LA-Y2
Contractor JAXA
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Medium Earth orbit
←  QZS-6
QZS-7  →

QZS-5 (Michibiki No.5) is a Japanese navigation satellite consisting part of the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS). QZS-5 will be deployed to a quasi-zenith orbit (QZO). With the launch of QZS-5, QZS-6, and QZS-7, the QZSS will expand from a GNSS augmentation service to a independent regional navigation satellite system covering the Asia-Pacific region.

Contents

Satellite

QZS-5 is the second of three Michibiki satellites to be launched to expand QZSS to a seven-satellite constellation. With its four-satellite constellation established in 2017, there are at a minimum two Michibiki satellites (one in QZO and one in GSO) constantly visible from Japan. Satellite navigation requires at least four satellites to be visible, so users need to receive signals from QZSS and other global navigation satellite system (GNSS) at the same time. [3] In its seven-satellite constellation, four Michibiki satellites (one in QZO, two in GSO, and one in QGSO) will be constantly visible from Japan, thus eliminating Michibiki's dependancy on other GNSS. QZS-5 will join QZS-2 and 4, QZS-1R in Quasi Zenith Orbit.

QZS-5 was manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric (MELCO), and its positioning mission payload was manufactured by NEC. [4] QZS-5 has a design life of 15 years. [2] Like QZS-6 and QZS-7, the satellite has a Precise Ranging Payload (PRP) consisting of Inter-satellite ranging (ISR) and satellite/ground bi-directional ranging. PRP enables the satellite to achieve a precise positioning measurment compared to previous Michibiki satellites. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Advanced Satellite Navigation System (ASNAV) project is responsible for Michibiki's PRP. [5] For ISR QZS-5 will be the source of the signals. QZS-6 and QZS-7 meanwhile will receive QZS-5's signal to measure the distance between them. [6]

Launch

QZS-5 is planned to be launched in December 2025.

Comparison of QZS-5, 6, and 7

Comparison of QZS-5, 6, and 7 [2] [1]
Schematics of satelliteQZS-5QZS-6QZS-7
Design life (after launch)15 years
Launch dateDecember 20252 February 2025February 2026
Orbit QZO GSO QGSO
Rocket H3-22S
Mass (dry/launch)1.8t/4.8t1.9t/4.9t2.0t/5.0t
Block typeIII-QIII-GIII-G
Payload electricity consumption2.4kW2.7kW3.0kW
Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT)L1-C/A (L1-C/B), L1C, L5
Precise Point Positioning (PRP)L6
Position Technology Verification Service (PTV)—L1Sb, L5S
L-band antenna type Patch antenna
Precise Ranging Payload (PRP)Inter-satellite ranging (ISR), satellite/ground bi-directional ranging
Message Communication Payload (MCP)— S-band (MCP developed by MELCO)
Secondary Payload—SĀCHI

References

  1. 1 2 "Constellation Information". Cabinet Office . Retrieved 2025-12-09.
  2. 1 2 3 "Establishing A Seven Satellite Constellation for Quasi-Zenith Satellite System in order to Realize High Precision Positioning Society" (PDF) (in Japanese). Mitsubishi Electric. 2021. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
  3. ↑ Hayashi, Kimiyo (December 6, 2024). "準天頂衛星「みちびき」7機体制へ—「マイハザードマップ」を作る中学生の期待". DSPACE (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-12-09.
  4. ↑ "「みちびき」7機体制で、GPSの日本単独運用を目指す 高精度な測位サービスを支えるNECの技術と人" (in Japanese). NEC . Retrieved 2025-12-09.
  5. ↑ "高精度測位システム（ASNAV）". JAXA . Retrieved 2025-12-09.
  6. ↑ Watanabe, Hibiki (December 9, 2024). "準天頂衛星システムみちびき6号機機体公開". Space Authors Club (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-12-09.
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