Two U.S. payloads can be be hosted on separate QZSS satellites in geostationary orbits
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Area Drive introduced Jan. 17 it has delivered the primary of two area sensor payloads scheduled to fly on Japan’s navigation satellites.
Japan’s Workplace of Nationwide Area Coverage in 2020 inked an agreement with the U.S. Area Drive to host two optical sensor payloads on Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite tv for pc System (QZSS) constellation. The primary sensor will fly on QZS-6 and the second on QZS-7, at the moment projected to launch in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
QZSS, generally known as the Japanese GPS, is a positioning system composed primarily of satellites in quasi-zenith orbits. The brand new satellites that may host U.S. payloads can be in geostationary orbits, a key location that will enable the US to watch crucial property within the GEO belt.
The optical sensors have been developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Expertise’s Lincoln Laboratory beneath a 2019 agreement with the U.S. Air Drive. The lab is working with the Japanese Nationwide Area Coverage Secretariat and Mitsubishi Electrical Firm to combine the sensors on QZS-6 and QZS-7. The 2 launches will increase the QZSS constellation to a complete of seven satellites.
“The supply of the primary payload represents an necessary milestone,” stated Lt. Col. Brian Fredrickson, program supervisor at U.S. Area Methods Command. “Whereas loads of work stays, I’m comfortable to report that we’re on monitor to satisfy our commitments.”
MIT Lincoln Laboratory and Area Drive personnel “will mobilize to Japan to assist the combination and check efforts with their Japanese companions till completion of the launch of each QZSS host satellites,” he stated.
The payload was transported on a army plane operated by Air Mobility Command from Hanscom Air Drive Base’s 66th Air Base Wing in Massachusetts to Yokota Air Base’s 374th Airlift Wing in Japan.
Area Methods Command stated the partnership with Japan “will set the stage for future collaborations.”
