Launch of Japan's H-2A rocket with spy satellites fails ( 2003-11-29 13:25) (Xinhua) Launch of Japan's H-2A rocket
with spy satellites failed Saturday afternoon, NHK television reported.
The set of four satellites - two optical-sensor models and two radar
models - have been lost control shortly after launching at 1:33 p.m. (0533
GMT) Saturday from southwest Japan's Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima
Prefecture.
According to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), which carried out
the undertaking, the launch is considered unsuccessful and will be automatically
destroyed.
The second pair of spy satellites were intended to monitor the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Kyodo News reported earlier.
Japan launched its first pair of spy satellites in March this year.
The launch of the second pair of spy satellites was originally scheduled
for Sept. 10 but was twice postponed to Sept. 22 and Sept. 27,
respectively, due to technical problems. The third delay was due to trouble with
the H-2A rocket.
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