30.11.2020

Japan has successfully launched an H2A rocket carrying a new communications satellite from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan. It was the 43rd launch of this type of rocket.

The launch took place at 4:25 p.m. on Sunday. The rocket rose steadily and separated from its booster. It released the satellite 30 minutes after liftoff at an altitude of 300 kilometers as planned.

The satellite will transmit high-speed data and images of the Earth to a base station, as well as other data for the Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center.

The satellite will use its own engine to enter orbit 36,000 kilometers above the equator.

The satellite can transmit data for nine hours per day on average, or nine times more than the previous model.

It was the 46th consecutive successful launch since 2005, including those of H2B rockets. It also marked 51 successful launches out of a total of 52 overall.

The 98 percent success rate is among the highest in the world.

Quelle: NHK