Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Japan’s H-2A rocket is set for its second-to-last mission on Thursday, Sept. 26, launching a secret spy satellite named IGS-Radar 8 from Tanegashima Space Center at 1:24 a.m. EDT (0524 GMT, 2:24 p.m. local time).
The satellite, operated by Japan’s Cabinet Satellite Information Center, will enter a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), commonly used for spy and weather satellites due to its consistent lighting conditions.
IGS-Radar 8 will gather data using radar technology for intelligence purposes, as well as for monitoring natural disasters, continuing the mission of Japan’s Information Gathering System (IGS) satellite fleet.
The IGS fleet includes both radar and optical satellites. The most recent H-2A mission, in January 2024, launched the IGS-Optical 8 satellite, also heading to a sun-synchronous orbit.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has built and operated the H-2A since its debut in 2001. The 174-foot-tall rocket has successfully completed 48 out of 49 missions, with the only failure occurring in 2003.
The H-2A will be retired after its 50th flight, expected to occur before the end of 2024, marking the end of over two decades of successful launches.
The H-2A will be replaced by Japan’s new H3 rocket, which has launched three times so far, with its most recent flight taking place on June 30, signaling a new era in Japan’s space capabilities.