{
  "id": "qzss",
  "name": "Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (Michibiki)",
  "aliases": [
    "QZSS",
    "Michibiki"
  ],
  "domain": "space",
  "country": "JPN",
  "category": "Regional navigation satellite constellation",
  "status": "in-service",
  "fielded": null,
  "operators": [
    "JPN"
  ],
  "summary": "Japan's regional navigation and augmentation system, expanded from four to seven satellites so Japan can position independently of GPS.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "orbit_regime",
      "v": "QZO (inclined geosynchronous), GEO and quasi-GEO",
      "src": [
        "nec-qzss"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "sats_planned",
      "v": 7,
      "src": [
        "satnews-qzss"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "note": "At least four always over Japan"
    },
    {
      "k": "program",
      "v": "Michibiki 7 (QZS-7) launched on an H3-22 from Tanegashima on 10 August 2026, the last of three satellites for the seven-satellite constellation",
      "src": [
        "spacenexus-qzs7"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "on_orbit",
      "v": 7,
      "src": [
        "celestrak-gp"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "note": "Payloads with current element sets in the public catalog, active or not."
    },
    {
      "k": "active_sats",
      "v": 6,
      "src": [
        "celestrak-gp"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "note": "Count in the CelesTrak active satellites list, which estimates operational status."
    },
    {
      "k": "perigee_km",
      "v": [
        32619,
        35780
      ],
      "src": [
        "celestrak-gp"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "note": "Active satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08."
    },
    {
      "k": "apogee_km",
      "v": [
        35795,
        38956
      ],
      "src": [
        "celestrak-gp"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "note": "Active satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08."
    },
    {
      "k": "period_min",
      "v": [
        1436.1,
        1436.4
      ],
      "src": [
        "celestrak-gp"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "note": "Active satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08."
    },
    {
      "k": "inclination_deg",
      "v": [
        0.02,
        40.01
      ],
      "src": [
        "celestrak-gp"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "note": "Active satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08."
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [],
  "variants": [],
  "art": "satellite",
  "image": null,
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-11-08",
      "change": "Entry created from cited open sources"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-11-08",
      "change": "Orbital elements from CelesTrak GP data (epoch about 2026-11-08): 7 catalogued, 6 active."
    }
  ],
  "satellites": [
    {
      "name": "QZS-1 (MICHIBIKI-1)",
      "norad": 37158,
      "cospar": "2010-045A",
      "perigee_km": 39686,
      "apogee_km": 39754,
      "inclination_deg": 44.42,
      "period_min": 1641.7,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": false,
      "owner": null,
      "launch": null
    },
    {
      "name": "QZS-2 (MICHIBIKI-2)",
      "norad": 42738,
      "cospar": "2017-028A",
      "perigee_km": 32650,
      "apogee_km": 38935,
      "inclination_deg": 39.25,
      "period_min": 1436.4,
      "epoch": "2026-10-17",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "JPN",
      "launch": "2017-06-01"
    },
    {
      "name": "QZS-3 (MICHIBIKI-3)",
      "norad": 42917,
      "cospar": "2017-048A",
      "perigee_km": 35780,
      "apogee_km": 35795,
      "inclination_deg": 0.09,
      "period_min": 1436.1,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "JPN",
      "launch": "2017-08-19"
    },
    {
      "name": "QZS-4 (MICHIBIKI-4)",
      "norad": 42965,
      "cospar": "2017-062A",
      "perigee_km": 32626,
      "apogee_km": 38954,
      "inclination_deg": 40.01,
      "period_min": 1436.3,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "JPN",
      "launch": "2017-10-09"
    },
    {
      "name": "QZS-1R (MICHIBIKI-1R)",
      "norad": 49336,
      "cospar": "2021-096A",
      "perigee_km": 32619,
      "apogee_km": 38956,
      "inclination_deg": 37.76,
      "period_min": 1436.1,
      "epoch": "2026-11-07",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "JPN",
      "launch": "2021-10-26"
    },
    {
      "name": "QZS-6 (MICHIBIKI-6)",
      "norad": 62876,
      "cospar": "2025-023A",
      "perigee_km": 35777,
      "apogee_km": 35795,
      "inclination_deg": 0.02,
      "period_min": 1436.1,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "JPN",
      "launch": "2025-02-02"
    },
    {
      "name": "QZS-7 (MICHIBIKI-7)",
      "norad": 100270,
      "cospar": "2026-182A",
      "perigee_km": 35456,
      "apogee_km": 36125,
      "inclination_deg": 2.86,
      "period_min": 1436.3,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "JPN",
      "launch": "2026-08-10"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/qzss.html",
  "sources": {
    "nec-qzss": {
      "title": "Michibiki seven-satellite constellation",
      "publisher": "NEC (citing qzss.go.jp, Cabinet Office)",
      "url": "https://www.nec.com/en/global/ad/cosmos/technology/column/04.html",
      "published": null,
      "tier": 3,
      "checked": "2026-11-08"
    },
    "satnews-qzss": {
      "title": "Japan to complete 7-orbiter geolocation system",
      "publisher": "SatNews",
      "url": "https://news.satnews.com/2025/12/02/japan-to-complete-7-orbiter-geolocation-system",
      "published": "2025-12-02",
      "tier": 3,
      "checked": "2026-11-08"
    },
    "spacenexus-qzs7": {
      "title": "H3-22 | Michibiki 7 (QZS-7) launch record",
      "publisher": "SpaceNexus (Launch Library 2 data)",
      "url": "https://spacenexus.us/launch/cmqerxqzaqggu3x6a13uconus.md",
      "published": "2026-08-10",
      "tier": 3,
      "checked": "2026-11-08"
    },
    "celestrak-gp": {
      "title": "NORAD GP element sets (current data)",
      "publisher": "CelesTrak (data from the U.S. Space Force 18th/19th Space Defense Squadron catalog)",
      "url": "https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/",
      "published": "2026-11-08",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-11-08"
    }
  }
}