Japan put a new, replacement spy satellite into orbit this week in order to replace an old satellite that is outdated and wearing out. Japan’s spy satellite was launched from Tanegashima Space Center in the Kagoshima Prefecture by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries via an H-2A rocket.
The H-2A rocket has been employed for spy satellite launches since 2001, and has had more than 20 successful launches since 2005. Japan’s spy satellites have been hovering out and about since the year 2000 to keep a lookout on neighboring North Korea. This was done in response to North Korea shooting off a midrange ballistic missile in 1998 that put its travel route right over mainland Japan.
Officials in Japan say that Japan’s spy satellite launch was put into its orbit exactly as planned, after previous attempts at a launch were halted due to bad weather.
The new satellite is designed to supplement one of the country’s two optical types of spy satellites that were put into orbit in 2009, and that are now near the end of their lifespan.
The newer of Japan’s spy satellite has a payload of instruments that are capable of monitoring areas from around 300 feet above the Earth, but the specifics of its capability are not shared by the government of Japan. These satellites are operated by the Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center, and this agency reports to the government of Japan. In addition, the government states that these satellites are valuable for monitoring other things like weather, natural disasters and crops. Prior to developing their own spy satellites, Japan had counted on the US to help them to monitor their areas of concern.
Now, the country has two of the optical satellites, as well as three radar satellites and a backup radar satellite. According to government officials, three more satellite launches are planned to take place from the site in Tanegashima later in 2015.
In addition, a flight of an H-2B rocket is planned in August 2015 carrying an HTV cargo carrier going to the International Space Station and before the end of 2015, Japan plans to launch its Astro-H X-ray astronomy laboratory and a Telstar 12V communications satellite.
This newly launched spy satellite is said to have cost about ¥32.5 billion, according to the Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center. Once Japan’s spy satellite begins its travel around the Earth and starts gathering images and data, the information from the new satellite will not be intended for public release. It is meant to be data considered state secrets in accordance with a law that was approved in 2014.
For more Japan, see this visual story of the remainders a Tsunami devastated township of Minamisanriku, Tohoku region:
