NEARCHUS: Japanese Satellite for better GPS services..[ 1781 ]

The Hellenic Navy (HN) (Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, Polemikó Naftikó, abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence. During the periods of monarchy (1833–1924 and 1936–1973) it was known as the Royal Navy (Βασιλικόν Ναυτικόν, Vasilikón Naftikón, abbreviated ΒΝ).The total displacement of all the navy's vessels is approximately 150,000 tons.The motto of the Hellenic Navy is "Μέγα το της Θαλάσσης Κράτος" from Thucydides' account of Pericles' oration on the eve of the Peloponnesian War. This has been roughly translated as "Great is the country that controls the sea". The Hellenic Navy's emblem consists of an anchor in front of a crossed Christian cross and trident, with the cross symbolizing Greek Orthodoxy, and the trident symbolizing Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology. Pericles' words are written across the top of the emblem. "The navy, as it represents a necessary weapon for Greece, should only be created for war and aim to victory."...............The Hellenic Merchant Marine refers to the Merchant Marine of Greece, engaged in commerce and transportation of goods and services universally. It consists of the merchant vessels owned by Greek civilians, flying either the Greek flag or a flag of convenience. Greece is a maritime nation by tradition, as shipping is arguably the oldest form of occupation of the Greeks and a key element of Greek economic activity since the ancient times. Nowadays, Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the world, which is the second largest contributor to the national economy after tourism and forms the backbone of world shipping. The Greek fleet flies a variety of flags, however some Greek shipowners gradually return to Greece following the changes to the legislative framework governing their operations and the improvement of infrastructure.

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This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς....This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς.........

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Japanese Satellite for better GPS services..[ 1781 ]

Japan launches satellite for better GPS services

The first quasi-zenith satellite Michibiki.(Mainichi)

The first quasi-zenith satellite Michibiki.(Mainichi)

(Mainichi Japan) September 12, 2010

TANEGASHIMA (Kyodo) -- Japan successfully launched a satellite Saturday to improve car navigation and other services using the global positioning system.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launched the quasi-zenith satellite Michibiki at 8:17 p.m. from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, using an H2A rocket. The 4-ton Michibiki -- 3 meters long, 3 meters wide and 6 meters high -- was separated from the rocket 28 minutes after the launch.

JAXA later said Michibiki was flying smoothly, spreading out the solar battery panel for electricity generation.

The launch of the satellite is intended to boost the accuracy and coverage of GPS services in Japan by complementing a U.S. satellite network.

Japan's GPS services currently depend on U.S. satellites. But their orbits are not just above Japan and radio waves from those satellites can be hampered by skyscrapers or mountains.

The agency aims to eliminate such blind spots and reduce the margin of error to within 1 meter by putting the Michibiki on an orbit almost just above Japan.

But Michibiki will be above Japan for eight hours a day. Two additional satellites are needed to provide 24-hour coverage.

The government has yet to have any specific launch plan for the additional satellites. It is expected to work out outline plans by next spring.

Commenting on the successful launch of Michibiki, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said, "This is Japan's first satellite venturing into the field of satellite-based positioning, which is expected to grow internationally, and its use is also expected t be in various areas."

"I expect the successful launch to help promote the development and use of space and contribute to economic growth," he said.

The government has so far earmarked about 40 billion yen as development costs for Michibiki and some 33.5 billion yen as ground facility and launch costs.

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