H2A #41 launched carrying the government payload of information gathering satellite optical #7. February 9, 2020, Tanegashima Space Center, Kagoshima
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) successfully launched its H2A rocket #41 from Tanegashima Space Center, Kagoshima, Japan at 10:34 a.m. (JST) on February 9, 2020. The booster had a payload of the government of Japan: Information Gathering Satellite Kogaku (Optical) #7.
H2A launching of the day marked 35th success consecutively and its non-failure rate reached to 97.6%.
After the launching of ballistic missile in 1998 by North Korea, Japan started its program to develop indigenous spy satellite constellation. Today two optical sensor satellites and two radar satellites are orbiting the globe and Japan can take photography of all points on earth once per day.
The Kogaku #7 is to succeed #5 of the same type launched in March 2015. With the successful launching of the #7, operation of eight satellites, including old generation birds that surpassed design longevity has been possible by the satellite information center under the Cabinet Office. ■
