The Experimental Geodetic Satellite "AJISAI" (EGS)" was launched at 5:45 a.m. on Aug 13, 1986 (JST) from the Tanegashima Space Center and it was put into a circular orbit at an altitude of 1,500 km by the maiden H-I Launch Vehicle. AJISAI is the first Japanese geometric satellite, and its major missions are rectifying Japan's domestic geodetic triangular net -- determining the exact position of many isolated Japanese islands and establishing Japan's geodetic point of origin. AJISAI is a ball-... More to read