Japan launches satellites into space

The H2-A rocket is the focus of the Japanese space program ( Photo: AFP )

Japanese missiles carrying satellites have been successfully launched into space, this is the second time Japan has launched satellites in a month.

The H-2A rocket was launched from southern Japan, carrying a 4.6-ton satellite to control air flow and weather. The missile department at the Japan Space Exploration Agency (Jaxa) confirms the satellite has been separated from the missile.

The Japanese space program has been revived after a series of failures and a series of successes by regional rival China.

H2-A is the 9th missile of this program. It is the focus of the Japanese space program, launched from the Tanegashima space center south of Kagoshima at 6:55 PM on Saturday.

New success

Scientists in the program said the MTSAT-2 satellite successfully separated from the rocket 30 minutes after the rocket was launched.

Spokesperson Jaxa Nobuko Sato said: " The missile launches successfully, but it will take a few days for us to know if the satellite has taken its initial steps and entered orbit successfully ."

The satellite will be put into an orbit about 36,000 km from the equator.

It will serve as a backup satellite for an active satellite today and will help air traffic in the relatively crowded sky pass through Asia Pacific.