Other Satellite Navigation Systems - Understanding GPS: Principles and Applications - page 625

continued to file paperwork with the ITU in support of this option, Chinese publica-
tions on future plans for BeiDou-2 do not present this as an option [61].
In 2000, the Chinese filed for 25 new navigation satellites under the “Compass”
designator. Subsequent articles by Chinese experts indicated that they are consider-
ing deploying a hybrid constellation composed of either four geostationary and nine
inclined geosynchronous satellites, or four geostationary and 12 MEO satellites.
Both options are designed to provide regional navigation similar to GPS and carry
forward provisions for the legacy-RDSS service. In late 2003, the Chinese added a
fifth geostationary satellite to both constellation options [62].
Also in late 2003, the Chinese filed for an additional 30-satellite constellation
under the “Compass-MG” designator. The 30-satellite “Compass-MG” proposal is
more ambitious than previous 5-, 14-, or 17-satellite alternatives and is designed to
provide world navigation support like GPS, but also carries forward provisions for
the legacy-RDSS service. The Compass-MG design is very similar to the plan for the
European GALILEO, and it is likely that the Chinese hope to benefit from lessons
learned and cooperation with the European GALILEO program [64].
The Chinese were scheduled to likely complete their design decision around
2005 as planned, but it is unclear what impact, if any, GALILEO will have on the
fabrication and deployment schedule of BeiDou-2. However, as noted earlier, the
cooperation is not expected to replace or hinder plans for the Chinese to deploy
their own indigenous system. It is thus reasonable to assume that the cooperation
will help China to gain the experience to facilitate its own program.

11.3 The Japanese QZSS Program

11.3.1 Introduction
At the time of this writing, the Japanese were developing an indigenous satellite nav-
igation augmentation to the U.S. GPS under the QZSS program. The concept has
been under development in Japan for more than 6 years and is the result of several
independent government and industry initiatives. Under current plans, the QZSS
constellation will be designed to support both mobile communications and GPS
augmentation services, but the size and orbit remain incompletely defined. Specifi-
cally, the Japanese intend the navigation services to address shortfalls in GPS satel-
lite visibility in urban canyons and mountainous terrain, which the Japanese assess
to be a problem in 80% of the country. In addition, the Japanese have expressed the
need for an independent regional navigation capability in times of crisis in order to
protect the Japanese economy and its extensive use of GPS [65].

11.3.2 Program Overview
Originally, the QZSS was an initiative of a joint industry effort under the (then) Jap-
anese Communications Research Laboratory. A number of national and consor-
tium projects in Japan have developed concepts for a satellite-based augmentation
to GPS with a funding and marketing base broadened by providing both a naviga-
tion and a communications capability. The QZSS program appears to be the first
such program to be moving forward with both government and industry support.