Japan鈥檚 H-2A rocket launched smoothly on Wednesday, restoring some confidence in the country鈥檚 satellite launch technology. The rocket placed a dummy cargo into orbit for the first time.
Japanese space scientists have yet to determine whether the target orbit was achieved, but the launch is a victory for the country鈥檚 accident-prone space agency.
鈥淭his was very much a success,鈥� said Japanese National Space Development Agency (NASDA) spokesman Toshihiko Kikuyama. 鈥淲e should get bonus points.鈥�
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Japan hopes to establish itself within the lucrative satellite launching industry currently dominated by the US and Europe within the next two years. However, these plans still hang in the balance after the catastrophic failures during previous rocket launch attempts in February 1998 and November 1999. These resulted in the loss of a commercial satellite and cast serious doubts on the program.
Looking up
Wednesday鈥檚 launch was watched by representatives from Japanese satellite operator JSAT. The company hopes to launch a satellite with NASDA by 2003 but has said it would place the satellite aboard a European rocket if H2-A is not ready.
During Wednesday鈥檚 launch, H2-A鈥檚 first and second stage engines performed without a hitch. The first stage engine fell away at an altitude of 130 kilometres and the second stage engine carried the rocket to 270 kilometres, where the dummy payload was deployed.
The launch did not go off entirely without a hitch, however. Take-off was delayed for five days, while engineers replaced a malfunctioning pressure control valve.
The $71 million rocket blasted-off from Tanegashima island 1,000 kilometres south-west of Tokyo at 0700 GMT. The launch was broadcast live on Japanese television and met with celebrations at NASDA mission control.