Launch News Launch of H-2A (F-20) with IGS Radar-3 from Japan

[Spicer]

Is there coverage available of the launch? It is a around 8:30 EDT tonight, and I would like to watch. Does anyone know how to tune in the Japanese launches? I've checked the JAXA page, and it has no mention of the launch.

 

[orb]

The launch is Dec 12 at 01:21 UTC. Here's calendar event.

Live broadcast will be here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nvs-live

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Is there coverage available of the launch? It is a around 8:30 EDT tonight, and I would like to watch. Does anyone know how to tune in the Japanese launches? I've checked the JAXA page, and it has no mention of the launch.

To expand on that, there's no mentioning of the launch by JAXA because it's not quite related to JAXA: the payload's a spysat! Specifically, the payload is the third operational radar satellite of the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_Gathering_Satellite"]IGS series[/ame], Japan's own spysat constellation. With the loss of the latest radar satellite (launched in 2007) in August 2010, Japan's defense administration has been left in the dark (pun intended) about what their neighbors (North Korea, China etc.) are doing. This launch will re-enable Japan's all-weather ability to monitor the situation of the Asia-Pacific region.

The launch is scheduled for 01:21 UTC tomorrow, with the launch window being 14 minutes long.

 

[Spicer]

Nice! Thanks so much!!!

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

The rocket's on the launch pad.

 

[orb]

The nvs-live Ustream channel with the launch coverage is live.

 

[BusDriver]

Liftoff!

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Looks like a successful launch!

 

[orb]

The satellite successfully separated:

H-2Aロケット２０号機は無事に衛星を分離した模様です。打上げは成功しました

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

And some pictures before and after launch:
http://twitpic.com/7rvjrw
http://twitpic.com/7rvk4i
http://twitpic.com/7rvn2x
http://twitpic.com/7s2nfa
http://twitpic.com/7s3g3z
http://twitpic.com/7s4y4m
http://twitpic.com/7s54oj

 

[orb]

NASASpaceflight: Japanese H-2A lofts IGS (Radar-3) satellite into orbit



Replay of the launch:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/19095461

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

 

[orb]

One more shot:

Spaceflight Now: Japan deploys radar reconnaissance satellite