Japan launches first rocket in 12 years - Telegraph.co.uk

The launch of the rocket, which is called the Epsilon, was broadcast live on Japanese television. Footage showed a white, pencil-shaped rocket shooting into the sky from the launch pad. An on-board camera then captured the rocket mid-flight. The H2A remains Japan's primary rocket but officials hope the Epsilon will lead to improvements in the more costly H2A programme. The rocket is about 24 metres (80 feet) tall, half the size of the H2A, and can be assembled and readied for launch in just one week, one-sixth of the time required for the H2A. The Epsilon is the first new rocket design for Japan since the H2A was introduced in 2001 and it is hoped that it will make Japan more competitive in the international rocket-launching business. Source APTN via Science - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGMc2pL5RPzX7plx09FmBfjjnfvWw&url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/10309354/Japan-launches-first-rocket-in-12-years.html

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