Japan launches, puts in orbit new intelligence-gathering satellite

Japan launched Sunday a rocket carrying a government intelligence-gathering satellite which was successfully placed into orbit after the previous takeoff attempt was scrubbed due to a glitch during the countdown.The H2A rocket, operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima at 10:34 a.m.It is the 35th time in a row that an H2A rocket has been launched successfully.The launch, previously set for Jan. 28, was pushed back due to a leak in piping used to supply the …READ FULL ARTICLE