Japan Launches New Spy Satellite

Tanegashima Space Center in Tanegashima, Kagoshima Prefecture,

From the Tanegashima Space Center in Tanegashima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Southern Japan, the nation has successfully launched an H-2A rocket carrying an intelligence-gathering satellite on Monday of December 12. According to Japan’s space agency, this was already the second launch of the year after its successful liftoff last September.

Officials stated that the radar-equipped satellite went off without any delay. However, details of the spy-satellites capabilities were not yet revealed as it is considered to be classified. Further, according to the Cabinet Satellite Information Center, this new spy satellite will begin to gather information in a few months.

According to recent reports, the spy satellite will supplement to the optical satellites that Japan has already launched previously. It will supply them with datum of what is happening on land during nighttime or with cloud cover.

In 2003, Japan was forced to launch its first spy satellites due to North Korea’s missile program. Currently, Japan has 4 optical intelligence-gathering satellites in orbit. However, two of the radar satellites are not fully operational yet.

Japan is also planning for another radar satellite launch next year. Nearby nations like Tokyo likewise seeks to use the spy satellite to provide them useful information at least once a day.

Posted by James Fried on Tuesday December 13 2011, 3:57 AM EDT. Ref: Google. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, World. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0