Launch Date of Michibiki, the First QZSS Satellite, Reset

August 12, 2010

News courtesy of CANSPACE Listserve

UPDATE: The website QZ-Vision for publishing data acquired by Michibiki will open on August 23. The site will not only provide operation information about the satellite after its launch; it will also offer detailed explanations about
QZSS and the 3D Michibiki that visitors can interact with.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency have announced a new date for the launch of Michibiki, the first QZSS satellite. The launch had been put on hold due to a suspected defect in the onboard reaction wheels.

Subsequently, Phoenix-based Honeywell Aerospace, the manufacturer of the reaction-wheel assembly system, said the defect is a contaminant in a shipment of specialty grease supplied to Honeywell for use with ball bearings that are part of the system. That component on Michibiki has been replaced.

The launch is now scheduled for September 11 (Saturday), 2010 (Japan Standard Time or JST) with a window of 8:17 p.m. through 9:16 p.m. (JST). JST is 9 hours ahead of UTC.

If the launch has to be postponed due to weather or other concerns, launch dates from September 12 (Sunday) through September 30 (Thursday), 2010 are possible.

The launch will take place from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Tanegashima Space Center.

In other Michibiki news, the satellite mascot is now available in computer desktop wallpapers.