Japan rocket launch a success

(CBC) - Japan's space agency launched a domestically developed rocket carrying the country's largest satellite on Monday.

The Kiku No. 8 satellite successfully separated from the H2-A rocket about 30 minutes into the flight, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency spokesman Kiyotaka Yashido said.

The satellite, scheduled to enter orbit on Tuesday morning, will be used mainly for telecommunications.

Poor weather conditions delayed the rocket launch, originally slated for Saturday.

Japan's budding space program has launched 11 rockets, mostly of the H2-A type.

The successful launch is welcome news for a once-troubled program striving to regain public confidence.

In November 2003 a rocket carrying satellites strayed off course and had to be destroyed. A month later a probe designed to orbit Mars was abandoned after it strayed off course.

Japan recently renewed its commitment to its space program, announcing earlier this year ambitious plans to attempt manned space flight and establish a moon base by 2025.

Monday's rocket was Tokyo's fifth launched this year and the first since an intelligence-gathering satellite was sent into orbit in September.

With files from the Associated Press

© the CBC, 2006