Update: Japan Ponders its Own SatNav Constellation
Japan's Strategy Headquarters for Space Development has decided four satellites will be enough to created the high accuracy GNSS currently in development. The original plan included seven satellites, but the cost, along with the rebuilding due the earthquake is too high. Officials say the four will still create the needed accuracy, but drop the cost for completion (one bird is in orbit) frm 230 billion yen to about 150 billion yen. A final decision on the number of satellites is expected as early as this summer.
--- original post 1/5/11 ---
In what I believe is the "rest of the story" from yesterday's 3 cm accuracy announcement comes word that the country is pondering a full constellation of satellites. A final decision is expected by August.
The Yomiuri Shimbun daily reported on Wednesday that Japan had decided to launch six to seven new satellites to establish its own GPS system by 2014 and 2015 to cover the entire Asia-Pacific region. By using both the new satellites and American GPS in combination, Japan could raise the degree of precision of car navigation systems 10-fold, the mass-circulation said.
The bad news? The plan is to charge for the service.
- AFP
