The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has controlled the orbit of the first quasi-zenith satellite system (QZSS) satellite, Michibiki. JAXA inserted Michibiki into the quasi-zenith orbit from the drift orbit starting on September 21 (Japan Standard Time, JST). The final orbit control operation was performed for about 50 seconds from 6:28 a.m. on September 27 (JST). read more
Global Positioning System experts from Air Force Space Command and the Space and Missile Systems Center will hold a media roundtable teleconference tomorrow, September 24, at 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time (4:30 p.m. Eastern Time) to discuss the recent GAO report titled “Global Positioning System: Challenges in Sustaining and Upgrading Capabilities Persist.” Colonel David Buckman, AFSPC command lead for positioning, navigation and timing, and Colonel Bernard Gruber, commander of the Global Positioning System Wing at Los Angeles Air Force Base, will participate in the teleconference. read more
Launch of the first Quasi-Zentih Satellite System (QZSS) satellite, dubbed Michibiki, took place Saturday, September 11, at 11:17:00 UTC from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. At 28 minutes and 27 seconds after liftoff, Michibiki was separated from the launch rocket, H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 18, according to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). read more
As this issue goes to press in late August, the first Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) space vehicle, nicknamed Michibiki, holds steady for a September 11 launch. QZSS will use multiple satellites in inclined orbits, placed so that one satellite always appears near zenith above Japan, well known for its high-rise cities. The design provides high-accuracy satellite... read more
As today’s handsets and consumer devices become more sophisticated, manufacturers continue to incorporate more and more functionality into a small and sleek form factor. Today’s range of smartphones incorporate voice and data transceivers, GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cameras, music, touchscreen interfaces, compasses, motion sensors, cameras, storage cards, and many other technologies. Free turn-by-turn navigation services, such as offered on Google Android phones and iPhones, have created a compelling reason for many of us to own a GPS-equipped smartphone. read more
A single spoofing source has a different spatial signal distribution from the authentic GPS signal. An antenna array can estimate the spatial distribution of the received signal and thus discriminate the spoofing signal from the authentic one. Moving a handheld receiver with a single antenna during signal capture snapshots produces a form of a synthetic array, highly effective in discriminating spoofing signals sourced from a point-source jammer. read more
Michibiki has more Twitter followers than you and me put together. All of you, and all of me with my 17 followers. Michibiki hit 16,284 when I signed on just now, and she (he?) has not yet even emerged upon the global stage. Perhaps by the time you read this, if the September 11 launch date holds true, s/he will be an orbiting, broadcasting entity. read more
Monitoring Water Level with GNSSA receiver can selectively acquire scattered signals and the resulting measurements can be interpreted to reveal certain characteristics of the source of the scattering. This article discusses the design and application of a GNSS instrument that uses scattered signals for monitoring the level and roughness of inland and coastal water surfaces for the betterment of planet Earth. read more
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