Japan Launches H-IIA Rocket Carrying Spy Satellite

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced the successful launch of the H-IIA transport rocket, which carried the Kogaku-8 spy satellite. The agency indicated that the launch was scheduled for January 11 but was postponed to January 12 due to adverse weather conditions. The Kogaku-8 satellite is owned by the Japanese government, and its mission is to monitor the Earth's surface and collect information related to military facilities, movements, and the situation in North Korea, particularly regarding the North Korean missile program. Additionally, it will gather information on natural disasters. The cost of this satellite was 40 billion yen (approximately 275 million dollars). Notably, "Japan currently operates 10 satellites for information gathering and surveillance." The H-IIA rocket uses liquid fuel and this launch marks the forty-eighth for this type of rocket. It is expected to be phased out in the fiscal year 2024, starting on April 1, after the fiftieth launch, when it will be replaced by the new H-III rocket, slated for launch after February 15 of this year.