Japan launches H-2A rocket carrying intelligence-gathering satellite

Japan on Tuesday launched an H-2A rocket carrying a government radar-type intelligence-gathering satellite from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan.The reconnaissance satellites will be used for such purposes as monitoring military facilities in North Korea and taking images of affected areas at a time of natural disasters.The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. launched the H-2A F39 rocket from JAXA's launch site in Kagoshima Prefecture.There are two types of reconnaissance satellites -- radar satellites capturing radio waves reflected fro…READ FULL ARTICLE