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Michibiki

retired

みちびき

Positioning Navigation TimingGEOCOSPAR 2010-045ALaunched 9/11/2010
Admin Edit
Mission & Launch
Launch Mission
QZSS
Launch Vehicle
H-IIA 202
Launch Date
9/11/2010
Last Contact
7/21/2023
Orbit & Mass
Orbit Class
GEO
Altitude
35,787.5 km
Inclination
40.95 deg
Dry Mass
1,802 kg
Total Mass
4,020 kg
Payload Classification
Mission Type
Positioning Navigation Timing
Payload Category
NAV/COM
Payload Class
C
Organizations
Operator
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Manufacturer
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Constellation
Name
QZSS
Active Satellites
5
Registry
COSPAR ID
2010-045A
UN Registration
ST/SG/SER.E/620
Track
Mentions
96
All verified mentions of this spacecraft in source documents.
0.0-5.0
Actions

The H3 F8 mission used the H3 24L configuration that was designed to place the 4,000 kg Michibiki No. 5 satellite into a specific transfer orbit.

PlanCapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Jan 26, 2026JAXA Trace H3 Flight 8 Failure to Payload Fairing Separation Anomaly
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Both Michibiki No. 5 and the H3 F8 first stage are believed to have impacted the Pacific Ocean near Minamitorishima.

GeneralValue 3.0Jan 26, 2026JAXA Trace H3 Flight 8 Failure to Payload Fairing Separation Anomaly

The loss of Michibiki No. 5 stalls Japan’s effort to complete a seven-satellite sovereign Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) network that was slated for completion by March 2026 to reduce reliance on U.S. GPS.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Jan 26, 2026JAXA Trace H3 Flight 8 Failure to Payload Fairing Separation Anomaly

JAXA's investigation found that during fairing separation physical contact or debris damaged the mounting section for Michibiki No. 5 (QZS-5).

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Jan 26, 2026JAXA Trace H3 Flight 8 Failure to Payload Fairing Separation Anomaly

H3 rocket No. 8 failed to place the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System satellite Michibiki-5 into its planned orbit.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Jan 20, 2026H3ロケット8号機の打ち上げ失敗、「みちびき」衛星が想定よりも早く離脱か–JAXAが原因究明

JAXA will continue investigating the cause of the launch failure, focusing on the event immediately after fairing separation and working with organizations related to Michibiki-5 while considering all possibilities.

PlanGeneralValue 3.6Jan 20, 2026H3ロケット8号機の打ち上げ失敗、「みちびき」衛星が想定よりも早く離脱か–JAXAが原因究明

JAXA has postponed the launch of MICHIBIKI No. 7, part of the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System.

PlanGeneralValue 3.8Jan 7, 2026Very not surprisingly we get a delayed announcement for the next launch:

MICHIBIKI No. 7 is part of the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System.

GeneralValue 3.0Jan 7, 2026RT by @GewoonLukas_: [Press Release] Launch Postponement of MICHIBIKI No. 7, Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZS-7) aboard the 9th H3 Launch Vehicle (H3 F9) https://global.jaxa.jp/press/2026/01/20260107-1_e.html

MICHIBIKI No. 7 was scheduled to be launched aboard the 9th H3 Launch Vehicle.

PlanGeneralValue 3.5Jan 7, 2026RT by @GewoonLukas_: [Press Release] Launch Postponement of MICHIBIKI No. 7, Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZS-7) aboard the 9th H3 Launch Vehicle (H3 F9) https://global.jaxa.jp/press/2026/01/20260107-1_e.html

MICHIBIKI No. 7 was scheduled to launch aboard the 9th H3 Launch Vehicle.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Jan 7, 2026Very not surprisingly we get a delayed announcement for the next launch:

The launch of MICHIBIKI No. 7 has been postponed.

PlanValue 3.0Jan 7, 2026RT by @GewoonLukas_: [Press Release] Launch Postponement of MICHIBIKI No. 7, Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZS-7) aboard the 9th H3 Launch Vehicle (H3 F9) https://global.jaxa.jp/press/2026/01/20260107-1_e.html

The launch failure resulted from the inability to release the sixth satellite of the seven-unit 'Michibiki' system into orbit.

PlanCapabilityValue 3.5Dec 29, 2025Japan's flagship H3 rocket fails to launch satellite

The H3 rocket No. 8 was carrying the quasi-zenith satellite system Michibiki No. 5, and the current status of this satellite is under investigation.

PlanGeneralValue 2.5Dec 23, 202512/23宇宙ニュース・SPACE COTANと三井物産、「宇宙版シリコンバレー」実現に向け基本合意 ほか3件

The Cabinet Office is sending commands to the Michibiki No. 5 satellite in the predicted communication time frame but has not received any response as of now.

CapabilityValue 4.0Dec 23, 202512/23宇宙ニュース・SPACE COTANと三井物産、「宇宙版シリコンバレー」実現に向け基本合意 ほか3件

The H3 No. 8 rocket lifted off but its second-stage engine shut down early before inserting the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System spacecraft Michibiki-5 into orbit.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.4Dec 22, 2025【速報】H3ロケット8号機、打ち上がるも第2段エンジンが早期に燃焼停止–JAXAが状況確認へ

JAXA explained that while a separation signal was sent from the rocket, the back signal indicating successful separation of the satellite (MICHIBIKI) was not received.

CapabilityValue 3.0Dec 22, 2025【更新】JAXA、H3ロケット8号機の打ち上げ失敗–日本版GPS衛星「みちびき5号機」を喪失

JAXA's Director and Launch Implementation Manager Masashi Okada is currently verifying if the satellite (MICHIBIKI) was successfully separated.

GovernancePlanValue 2.2Dec 22, 2025【更新】JAXA、H3ロケット8号機の打ち上げ失敗–日本版GPS衛星「みちびき5号機」を喪失

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced on December 22 that the H3 rocket's launch failed and may have resulted in the loss of the Quasi-Zenith Satellite 'MICHIBIKI' No. 5.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Dec 22, 2025【更新】JAXA、H3ロケット8号機の打ち上げ失敗–日本版GPS衛星「みちびき5号機」を喪失

MICHIBIKI No. 5 will be launched aboard the 8th H3 Launch Vehicle.

PlanValue 4.0Dec 20, 2025RT by @GewoonLukas_: [Press Release] Launch Time and Launch window of MICHIBIKI No. 5, Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZS-5) aboard the 8th H3 Launch Vehicle (H3 F8) [Rescheduled] https://global.jaxa.jp/press/2025/12/20251220-1_e.html

MICHIBIKI No. 5 is part of the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System.

GeneralValue 2.8Dec 20, 2025RT by @GewoonLukas_: [Press Release] Launch Time and Launch window of MICHIBIKI No. 5, Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZS-5) aboard the 8th H3 Launch Vehicle (H3 F8) [Rescheduled] https://global.jaxa.jp/press/2025/12/20251220-1_e.html