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(Update) Japan Fails in Spy Satellite Launch

Posted on: Saturday, 29 November 2003, 06:00 CST

Tanegashima Space Center, Kagoshima Pref, Nov. 29 (Jiji Press)-- Japan on Saturday failed to put a pair of intelligence satellites on orbit on the No. 6 H-2A rocket due to the rocket's trouble.

The rocket was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan, at 1:33 p.m. (4:33 a.m. GMT) but was destroyed upon an order from the ground control center later, forcing the satellite launch to end in failure.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, which is investigating into the cause of the rocket's trouble, said one of its two solid rocket boosters failed to be detached.

The mission, which had been postponed from the initially scheduled liftoff on Sept. 10, was to be the second launch of Japanese information-gathering satellites, designed primarily to monitor North Korean military facilities. The first pair was successfully placed into orbit in March.

The failure of the day's launch will force the Japanese government to conduct intelligence operations only with the first two satellites for the time being, dealing a heavy blow to Japan's space programs.

It is also expected to delay the launch planned for January or February of the No. 7 H-2A rocket carrying a weather satellite.

In addition, there is concern about a delay in the planned shift of production and sales of H-2A rockets to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. , scheduled for fiscal 2005.

The failure of Japan's major rocket launch was the first since the No. 5 and the No. 8 H-2 rockets' launches resulted in failure in 1998 and 1999 successively.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said that the failed launch is extremely regrettable when Japan needs to reinforce its intelligence capability. The government will study necessary steps while thoroughly investigating into the cause of the failure, he added.END

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