Posted: Sat, Sep 28, 2024, 6:58 AM ET (1058 GMT)
Japan launched a reconnaissance satellite on the penultimate flight of the H-2A. The rocket lifted off at 12:41 am EDT (0441 GMT) Thursday from the Tanegashima Space Center after weather delayed a launch attempt last week. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries confirmed separation of the IGS-Radar 8 reconnaissance satellite from the launch vehicle in sun-synchronous orbit around two hours after launch. The launch was the 49th of the H-2A, with one more launch of that rocket planned for late this year carrying an Earth science satellite. The H-2A is being replaced by the H3 rocket, which made two successful launches earlier this year.

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