The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries joint project went into space at 10:21 a.m. local time from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyodo news agency reports.
The JSE series of satellites, also known as Information Gathering Satellites (IGS), is operated by Japan’s Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Centre and consists of optical and radar imaging spacecraft. The exact capabilities of the satellite are kept secret by the Japanese government.
Ｈ２Ａロケット２７号機、打ち上げ成功 情報収集衛星・レーダー予備機搭載 - 産経ニュース http://t.co/caOEflCzXY @Sankei_newsさんから http://ift.tt/15XHEqg
— 松尾 章史 (@e_stepmm) February 1, 2015
Before Sunday’s launch, four Japanese intelligence satellites were already in place – two optical satellites and two radar satellites, constructed by Mitsubishi Electric and taken into space by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
国の情報収集衛星を載せたＨ２Ａ２７号機が打ち上げられました。まずは空撮写真をどうぞ。まもなく空撮動画を配信します。 http://t.co/pNKzVd160dhttp://ift.tt/15XHEqk
— 朝日新聞デジタル天文部 (@asahi_tenmon) February 1, 2015
Japan launched its first spy satellites into orbit in the early 2000s – after North Korea fired a mid-range ballistic missile over the Japanese mainland – and in 1998.
The initial launch of the fifth H-2A Launch Vehicle No. 27, was originally scheduled for Thursday, but was delayed due to bad weather. Japan plans to launch another IGS satellite in March.
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