Published: 7:44pm, 4 Nov 2024Updated: 8:19pm, 4 Nov 2024
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.
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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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Space race elevates Asia in new world order
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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.