Japan launch new weather satellite into space

TOKYO: Japan successfully launched a weather satellite into space on Wednesday to help improve cyclone monitoring in Asia and Oceania, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAEA) said.

An H-2A rocket carrying the Himawari-9 weather satellite lifted off at 3:20 pm (0620 GMT) from Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, after Tuesday's scheduled launch was delayed by bad weather.

The Himawari-9 has a high-spec camera, more than three times more observational bands than the existing Himawari-8 satellite and is expected to be fully operational by 2022, JAEA said.