Japan Launches New Satellite to Improve Navigation System

Japan's space agency says it successfully launched a navigation satellite on its new H3 rocket. The latest launch on February 2 took place as the country aims to develop a more precise positioning system. 日本航天局表示，它成功地在其新的H3火箭上推出了导航卫星。2月2日的最新发布会是该国旨在开发更精确的定位系统的。 The H3 rocket carrying the Michibiki 6 satellite lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center on a southwestern Japanese island. 载有Michibiki 6卫星的H3火箭从日本西南部的Tanegashima太空中心抬起。 Makoto Arita oversees the H3 project for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency known as JAXA. Arita said everything went smoothly and the satellite successfully separated from the rocket as planned about 29 minutes after liftoff.Makoto Arita监督日本航空航天勘探局的H3项目，称为Jaxa。阿里塔（Arita）说，一切都顺利进行，卫星在升空后约29分钟后成功地与火箭分离。 Officials said it should reach its target orbit around Earth in the middle of February. 官员说，它应该在2月中旬到达地球周围的目标轨道。 Japan’s current system is called the quasi-zenith satellite system, or QZSS. It started operating in 2018 and has four satellites that serve a regional navigation system. The Michibiki 6 will be the fifth satellite in the network. 日本当前的系统称为准Zenith卫星系统或QZSS。它从2018年开始运行，并拥有四个为区域导航系统服务的卫星。Michibiki 6将是网络中的第五颗卫星。 Michibiki's signals are used to supplement the American satellite system called the Global Positioning System (GPS). It will also improve positioning data for smartphones, car navigation, navigation at sea and drones. Michibiki的信号用于补充称为全球定位系统（GPS）的美国卫星系统。它还将改善智能手机，汽车导航，海上航行和无人机的定位数据。 Japan plans to launch two more navigation satellites to have a seven-satellite system by March 2026. The Japan Science and Technology Agency hopes that will create a more precise global positioning ability without depending on foreign services, including GPS. By the late 2030s, Japan plans to have an 11-satellite network. 日本计划在2026年3月之前发射另外两条导航卫星，以建立七个卫星系统。日本科学技术局希望，它将创造更精确的全球定位能力，而不会依赖包括外国服务（包括GPS）。到2030年代后期，日本计划拥有一个11卫星网络。Sunday's launch was the fourth successful flight in a row for the H3 system. The first attempt to launch last year failed and the rocket had to be destroyed with its payload. 周日的发布是H3系统连续第四次成功的航班。去年发射的首次尝试失败了，火箭必须用有效载荷摧毁。 Japan considers the ability to regularly put satellites into orbit as important to its space program and national security. It has been developing two new leading rockets. One is the large H3 from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The other is a much smaller Epsilon system with the aerospace unit of IHI corporation. Japan hopes to meet the needs of companies for space launch services and improve its position in the growing satellite launch market. 日本认为能够定期将卫星放入轨道上对其太空计划和国家安全至关重要。它一直在开发两个新的领先火箭。一个是来自三菱重工业的大型H3。另一个是IHI Corporation的航空航天单元的一个小得多的Epsilon系统。日本希望满足公司对太空发射服务的需求，并提高其在不断增长的卫星发射市场中的地位。