Japan successfully launches solid fuel
rocket
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[December 28, 2016]
TOKYO
(Reuters) - Japan's space agency said on Tuesday it had successfully
launched a solid fuel rocket named Epsilon-2, the latest in Tokyo's
effort to stay competitive in an industry that has robust growth
potential and strong security implications. |
![](../images/122816pics/news_L17.jpg)
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Epsilon rocket carrying the
satellite named Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace
(ERG) set off from the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima prefecture,
Japan in this photo taken by Kyodo December 20, 2016. Kyodo/via REUTERS |
The 26-meter-long
rocket, launched at about 8 p.m. (1100 GMT) from the Uchinoura
Space Center in southern Japan, released a satellite for
studying radiation belts around the earth soon after the
lift-off, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said.
The Epsilon-2 three-stage rocket is part of a new generation of
solid propellant rockets and makes it possible for launch costs
to be reduced up to one third, according to JAXA.
Curbing costs for rocket launches is important as more emerging
economies aim to put communication and weather satellites in
space and Japan faces stiff competition with U.S. and European
rivals such as Arianespace.
(Reporting by James Daniels; editing by Ralph Boulton)
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