The first launch will be held on March 9th this year at Japan's first private rocket launch site in Kushimoto Town, Wakayama Prefecture. The rocket is expected to carry a small satellite, and if successful, it is expected to give momentum to private space business.
This was revealed on the 26th by Space One, a space development venture that operates Japan's first private rocket launch site in Kushimoto Town, Wakayama Prefecture, at a meeting of a council formed by Wakayama Prefecture and local governments.
At the meeting, Space One Director Mamoru Endo announced that the first launch will take place between 11 a.m. and noon on March 9 this year.
The launch of the first vehicle has been postponed four times due to the time required to procure the necessary parts, but after that, progress has been made in assembling the rocket and the launch is now in sight.
The first vehicle will carry a government satellite and is scheduled to be placed into orbit at an altitude of 500 km, and if successful, it is expected to give momentum to private space business.
Space One Director Endo said, ``Although there were many postponements, we were able to get this far thanks to the cooperation of the local community and others.We would like to proceed with preparations for the first launch carefully and reliably.''
Katsumasa Tajima, the mayor of Kushimoto Town, said, ``It's been nine years since we first heard about the rocket launch, and we've been waiting for it for a long time.I'm truly grateful that the schedule has been announced.''