2017/1/24 18:00
Kyodo
Japan has launched H2A carrying the Defense Ministry’s own communication satellite successfully today. On 17:18 JST, the satellite was separated from the rocket.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and JAXA launched Kirameki-2 from Tanegashima Space Center, southern part of Japan.
Defense Ministry is currently using commercial communication satellites to relay internal communication among its forces. With the new satellite for exclusive use for the military forces, it is expected to enhance communication efficiency in the event of natural calamities as well as with foreign counterparts.
Japan’s first defense satellites will use X-band for uninterrupted communication. Another bird, Kirameki -1 was damaged during transportation and it is under repairment and will be launched in 2018.
