Spy satellite rocket launch fails
A Japanese rocket carrying two spy satellites meant to monitor North Korea failed to reach orbit today and had to be destroyed, space officials said, in the latest blow to Japan’s space programme.
The launch of the domestically-designed and made H2-A rocket had been delayed three times since September 10 because of technical glitches.
National broadcaster NHK reported one of the rocket’s engines had malfunctioned, prompting the space agency to order the rocket blown up 10 minutes after lift-off.
“There was no chance of the mission being recovered, so ground control issued an order to destroy the rocket,” said Shoko Yamamoto, a spokeswoman for Japan’s space agency JAXA. She declined further comment.
Today’s launch was kept under tight security, with the usual live film coverage of the lift-off banned because of the sensitivity of the rocket’s payload.
Tokyo sent its first two spy satellites into space in March as part of a €1.86bn surveillance project to keep watch on North Korea’s missile and nuclear programmes.
The move prompted protests from Pyongyang, which warned Tokyo against triggering a regional arms race.
Japanese officials say the programme was prompted by North Korea’s surprise test launch of a long-range missile over Japan’s main island in 1998. The satellites are not meant as a provocation and would also be used for other missions such as monitoring natural disasters and weather patterns, they say.
Saturday’s launch failure will probably complicate Japan’s space ambitions.
“It’s very unfortunate,” Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was quoted as saying by Kyodo News. “We will quickly, strictly and thoroughly study the cause and consider what further actions to take.”
The government had been planning to put a total of eight spy satellites in orbit until 2006.
The satellites have faced criticism at home from those concerned they go against a long-standing policy of conducting only non-military space missions.
