Japan Launches New Spy Satellite

SPACEWAR

Illustration only of a current model Japanese SpySat.

by Staff Writers
Tokyo (AFP) Feb 24, 2007
Japan launched its latest satellite Saturday, giving Tokyo the ability to spy on any location in the world. The rocket carrying the satellite lifted off from a base in the south of the country at 1:41 pm (0441 GMT), said a spokeswoman for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

It is the last of four spy satellites that Japan decided to put into orbit in 1998 after it was shocked by North Korea firing a missile over its main island.

The fourth satellite was put into orbit with no problems, and will give Japan the ability to spy anywhere on Earth at least once a day.

The rocket also carried an experimental optical satellite to carry out tests for future espionage operations.

"The rocket travelled normally. We confirmed that the information satellites were separated," the agency said in a statement.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hailed the successful launch.

"I am happy to hear that the satellite was successfully put into orbit," he said in a statement.

"I hope our nation's space development will continue to see successes in the future."

Japan sees itself as the top target of North Korea, which tested an atom bomb last year but has recently signed an agreement to shut down key nuclear facilities.

Tokyo also expressed concern when China, North Korea's main ally, shot down one of its own satellites last month, demonstrating its ability to destroy those operated by other nations.

Japan has been expanding its space operations and has set a goal of sending an astronaut to the moon by 2020.

But it suffered an embarrassing failure in November 2003 when it had to destroy a rocket carrying a spy satellite 10 minutes after lift-off because a rocket booster did not separate.

The incident led Japan to suspend launches for more than a year.

Source: Agence France-Presse

Email This Article

SPACEWAR

Japan Delays Launch Of Spy Satellite

Tokyo, Japan (XNA) Feb 20, 2007
The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency said Friday that it will delay the launch of a H-2A rocket carrying a spy satellite originally scheduled on Friday afternoon, due to unfavorable weather. The launch of the radar satellite from Tanegashima Space Center in south Japan's Kagoshima prefecture was aimed to complete the country's four-satellite system for intelligence gathering with full global coverage.

SUPERPOWERS Putin Warns Against Flouting International Law For Own Interests The Bear Roars From The East Putin Takes A Tour Of The Mideast China Flexes Its Muscle To Help Defuse North Korean Nuclear Crisis	NUKEWARS Military Operations Outside Iraq Unacceptable North Korea Talks Remain In Fog Of Hot Air US Dismisses Iranian Nuclear Offer As Warships Arrive North Korea Could Make Nuclear Warhead For Missile Delivery
MISSILE NEWS Iran Launches War Games With Missile Tests Putin Denies Passing Missile Technology To Iran Raytheon And BAE Test Fire DDG 1000 MK57 Vertical Launching System India Test-Fires Supersonic Cruise Missile	MISSILE DEFENSE Putin Pledges To Strengthen Russia's Defense Potential Missile Defenses In Europe Would Shield Against Iran, Not Russia Russian Missile Forces Lower Quantity But Higher Quality Russian Threat To Withdraw From INF Not Bluff
AEROSPACE Lockheed Martin And FAA Reach Significant Milestone In Transformation Of Flight Services Can UABC Take Russian Aircraft-Makers Out Of Spin Superjet To Be Tested For Strength Anger As Britons Face Air Tax Hike	UAV NEWS Killerbee UAV Flies At Camp Pendleton UAV Tested For US Border Security Iran Claims New Stealth Drone That Can Attack US Gulf Fleet Boeing ScanEagle Team Achieves Compliance With NATO UAV Interoperability Standard
IRAQ WARS General Discusses Chlorine Bombs, Helicopter Shoot-downs Iraq Surge Strategy Slammed Facing Iraq Realities And Lessons From Afghanistan Sunni Insurgents Seen To Maneuver For Advantage In Baghdad	MILTECH Pentagon Calls Off Plans For Huge Explosion In Desert Lockheed Martin Compact Kinetic Energy Missile Successful In Final Flight Test US Deploys Stealth Fighters In Japan Future Combat Systems Restructuring A Balancing Act

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement