Flight Daily News

Japan has launched its MTSAT-2 4.6t satellite into geostationary orbit aboard an H-2A F9 booster.

The satellite, which will help control air traffic and track weather patterns, lifted off from the Tanegashima space centre in the southern region of Kagoshima on Saturday.

Mission control at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa) confirmed the satellite had separated from the rocket successfully.

This was the ninth launch of Japan’s H2-A rocket and follows a flurry of recent activity by the country’s space industry. Japan launched a land observation satellite in January and was due to launch a smaller M-V F8 rocket, carrying the ASTRO-F infrared astronomical satellite as Flight Daily News went to press.

Jaxa says: “We would like to express our profound appreciation for the co-operation and support of all related personnel and organisations that helped contribute to the successful launch of the MTSAT.”