Japan to launch intelligence-gathering satellite on Sun. after delay

February 7, 2020

The Mainichi:

Japan has earmarked Sunday as the new launch date for an H2A rocket carrying a government optical intelligence-gathering satellite after the previous launch attempt was scrubbed due to a glitch during the countdown, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. said Thursday.

The H2A rocket is scheduled to lift off on Sunday morning from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan. The launch, previously set for Jan. 28, was pushed back due to the discovery during preparations for liftoff of a leak in the piping supplying the rocket with nitrogen gas.

Mitsubishi Heavy, which is in charge of the launch, attributed the leak to pipe corrosion and said it has completed the necessary repairs and inspections.

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