LAUNCH CENTER
Success
Sun Feb 09 2020
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
IGS Optical 7
Launch Successful
LAUNCH PREVIEW
Launch Time
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(1:34 AM UTC)
Launch Window Start
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(1:34 AM UTC)
Launch Window End
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(1:39 AM UTC)
RECOVERY OVERVIEW
Location
No Recovery Specified
Type
No Recovery Specified
Rocket Details
Name:
H-IIA 202Description:
H-IIA (H2A) is an active expendable launch system operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The liquid-fueled H-IIA rockets have been used to launch satellites into geostationary orbit, to launch a lunar orbiting spacecraft, and to launch Akatsuki, which studied the planet Venus. Launches occur at the Tanegashima Space Center.
MISSION OVERVIEW
- Type: Government/Top Secret
- Information Gathering Satellite (IGS) is a Japanese governmental spy satellite program. IGS Optical 7, as the name suggests, is an optical reconnaissance satellite. Japan began development of IGS in the late 1990s, following North Korea’s attempted satellite launch in 1998. Although the North Korean launch failed to reach orbit, the rocket carrying it crossed Japan during its ascent, sparking fears that North Korean missiles would be able to target the islands. With IGS, Japan aimed to develop an independent reconnaissance capability to monitor future threats. The constellation can also be used for disaster monitoring and other civilian applications by the Japanese government.
COMPLEX OVERVIEW
Location
Tanegashima, Japan
Pad
Yoshinobu Launch Complex