TOKYO, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Japan on Thursday launched a rocket and successfully put a second GPS satellite into orbit to help improve the precision of the global positioning system.
The H-2A rocket was launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and was carrying the Michibiki No.2, which is part of a four-satellite system.
It left the pad at the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, Thursday morning and the satellite was put into orbit as per its scheduled time.
Michibiki satellites are used to determine locations of objects on earth and the system's first satellite was sent into space seven years ago and two others will be launched later this year.
Each will orbit Japan for eight hours a day to ensure that at least one satellite has total coverage of the country at all times, sources familiar with the matter said.
The satellite launched Thursday will work with one of the original Michibiki satellites at an altitude of between 33,000 to 39,000 kilometers and join a network of U.S. satellites that Japan previously used solely for its GPS needs.
According to informed sources, GPS, which is owned by the United States, has a margin of error of about 10 meters when it comes to global positioning. When Michibiki and GPS are working in tandem, however, that margin will be reduced to just a few centimeters.
Consumers using smartphones will benefit from the enhanced positioning system when using map-based applications.
