Japan Launches H2A Rocket With Recon Satellite

Japan's H2A rocket, carrying an information-gathering satellite, has launched from the space center on Tanegashima Island in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. announced, as reported by Kyodo News.

Japan aims to become the fifth country after the former Soviet Union, the United States, China and India to land a craft on the Moon. I Photo: Kyodo News

This marks the first liftoff in Japan of a major domestic rocket since March amid an intensifying global space race. The launch time was set for around 2:25 p.m., the manufacturer stated.

The launch of rocket No. 49, carrying the government reconnaissance satellite, was originally planned for Wednesday but was postponed due to forecasted bad weather.

The H2A is Japan's primary liquid-fuel rocket. Its operation is expected to end in fiscal 2024, concluding next March with the launch of rocket No. 50. Afterward, the H3 is scheduled to fully take over, according to the Mainichi Shimbun.

With the SLIM small-scale explorer designed to test technology for pinpoint landings on the lunar surface, Japan aims to become the fifth country after the former Soviet Union, the United States, China and India to land a craft on the Moon.

According to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, the H2A, which took off at 8:42 a.m., "flew as planned," with SLIM having separated from the rocket successfully about 47 minutes later.

The XRISM X-ray astronomical satellite, which will be used to observe plasma in stars and galaxies, was also on board and separated successfully.

The development came after a failed inaugural launch in March of Japan's next-generation H3 rocket, under development by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. It was the H2A rocket's 41st successful launch in a row since 2005.