On the morning of the 26th, the H2A rocket No. 46 carrying the government's information gathering satellite was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture.
The satellite was put into the planned orbit and the launch was successful.
H2A Rocket No. 46 was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center at 10:50 am on the 26th.
It continued to ascend while disconnecting the auxiliary rocket and the first stage engine, etc., and put the on-board government information gathering satellite into orbit around the earth, and the launch was successful.
Information-gathering satellites are de facto reconnaissance satellites capable of photographing any location on the earth from hundreds of kilometers above the ground, and are used to ascertain trends in North Korea's missile launch facilities and damage in the event of a disaster.
The satellite that was launched is called a radar satellite, and it can take pictures of the ground using radio waves even at night and in bad weather.
According to the Cabinet Satellite Information Center, currently in operation are 5 radar satellites, 3 optical satellites that take pictures of the ground with cameras, and a data relay satellite that sends the observed data to the ground via high-speed communication. The government aims to operate with 10 aircraft at all times from 2028.
The budget for the development and operation of information gathering satellites has so far exceeded 1.6 trillion yen, and more than 60 billion yen has been invested in the development and launch of this radar satellite.
Including the H2B rocket, which has enhanced launch capabilities, the H2A rocket has successfully launched 54 times out of a total of 55 times, boasting a success rate of 98%, which is one of the highest in the world.