MHI H-IIA 202 IGS Optical 7
H-IIA 202
Status
Success
Date
9 FEB 2020
01:34
Launch Provider
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Launch Pad
Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-1
Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
Mission Overview
Information Gathering Satellite (IGS) is a Japanese governmental spy satellite program. IGS Optical 7, as the name suggests, is an optical reconnaissance satellite. Japan began development of IGS in the late 1990s, following North Korea’s attempted satellite launch in 1998. Although the North Korean launch failed to reach orbit, the rocket carrying it crossed Japan during its ascent, sparking fears that North Korean missiles would be able to target the islands. With IGS, Japan aimed to develop an independent reconnaissance capability to monitor future threats. The constellation can also be used for disaster monitoring and other civilian applications by the Japanese government.
Rocket
H-IIA 202
Mission Type
Government/Top Secret
Orbit
Sun-Synchronous Orbit
Stages
2
Livestream
Rocket Details
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.
Height
53 m
Diameter
4 m
Launch Mass
285 T
Thrust
2,260 kN