Japanese Regional Navigation Satellite System ?The JRANS Concept?

Abstract

Current Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) have enabled quality of life improvements and new business opportunities on an international scale. The range of applications and improvements includes a multitude of disciplines such as Agriculture, Transportation, Recreation, Public Safety and Security. Independent financial institutions have estimated the annual business market value for GNSS user equipment and related components in the billions of US dollars. The Government of Japan recognizes the importance of investing in GNSS today to establish a foundation for future quality of life improvements and business opportunities for current and future generations. The current Japanese program QZSS—Quasi Zenith Satellite System with 3 GPS-supplementary satellites—represents a bold step in the development of a Regional Navigation Satellite System (RNSS) for all of Asia. In January 2004, the Council for Science and Technology Policy (CSTP) in the Cabinet Office published a report regarding the future outlook of RNSS in Japan. This paper provides an update on QZSS progress, the real-world challenges and demands facing Japanese decision makers as reflected in the CSTP report, and a glimpse into the future options for the expansion of 3-satellite QZSS to a 7-satellite constellation system that can autonomously provide satellite-based position, velocity and time services, while preserving the reciprocity and compatibility with the GPS. In September 2004, CSTP published another report regarding space policy that states a long-term goal of the government to build the "autonomous" and "GPScomplementary" regional satellite navigation system in the future.