Japan launches defence satellite carried by new flagship rocket
Amid growing tension in the region, the satellite is designed for information-gathering and military operations
Japan launched a defence satellite designed for information-gathering and military operations on a new flagship H3 rocket on Monday, as the country seeks to build up its military capability amid growing tension in the region.
The rocket lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Centre on a southwestern Japanese island.
Everything went as planned and the satellite placed at the top of the rocket was successfully separated about half an hour after lift-off, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, said in a live streaming.
JAXA was due to give further details about the launch later on Monday.
The rocket is carrying a Defence Ministry satellite, Kirameki No. 3, which uses X-band communication for military operations and reconnaissance, including information-gathering for signs of North Korean missile activity.
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X-band satellite is less affected by weather and is capable of supporting stable communication. Kirameki No. 3 adds to two earlier X-band satellites already in operation.
