LAUNCH MISSION
MHI H-IIA 202 Himawari-9
Launch Pad
Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-1
Description
Himawari-9 is a geostationary weather satellite operated by the Japan Meteorological Agency. It will be placed at 140 degrees East and will replace Himawari-8 in 2022. The satellite is about 3,500 kilograms and has a design life of around 15 years with operational life lasting 8 years.The main instrument aboard is a 16 channel multispectral imager to capture visible light and infrared images of the Asian-Pacific region.
H-IIA 202
Rocket Description
H-IIA (H2A) is an active expendable launch system operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The liquid-fueled H-IIA rockets have been used to launch satellites into geostationary orbit, to launch a lunar orbiting spacecraft, and to launch Akatsuki, which studied the planet Venus. Launches occur at the Tanegashima Space Center.