Mitsubishi Heavy launches H-IIA rocket carrying Japan’s spy satellite By Reuters

© Reuters. The brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is seen on the firm headquarters in Tokyo, Japan December 8, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photograph

TOKYO (Reuters) – Mitsubishi Heavy Industries launched an H-IIA rocket carrying the Japanese authorities’s Data-Gathering Satellite tv for pc “Optical-8”, the corporate mentioned in a publish on social media X on Friday.

It was the forty eighth launch of Japan’s flagship launch car since 2001, bringing the success price of the rocket, developed by Japan Aerospace Exploration Company (JAXA), to 97.92%.

Japan plans to retire H-IIA after two extra launches and exchange it with H3, however has been scuffling with the transition after JAXA’s first take a look at launch failed in March final 12 months. The H3’s second take a look at launch is slated for Feb. 15.