Japan's space agency said Wednesday it was delaying the launch of a satellite aimed at providing high-speed Internet access across Asia due to a technical problem with its rocket. Japan was slated Friday to launch the Kazuna, an experimental satellite looking at how to bring broadband-speed service across Asia even when terrestrial infrastructure goes down.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said it discovered a problem with the gas jet thruster for its H-2A launch rocket on Tuesday at its station on the southern island of Tanegashima. "The new launch date will be announced as soon as it is determined," a JAXA statement said. The satellite was jointly developed by JAXA and industrial giant Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, which is handling the launch for the second time since the H-2A was privatised in April 2007.