Posted: Wed, Feb 23, 2005, 8:25 AM ET (1325 GMT)
The return to flight of Japan's H-2A launch vehicle has been delayed at least two days by weather, the Japanese space agency JAXA announced. The H-2A was scheduled to launch from the Tanegashima Space Center on Thursday, but bad weather has pushed off the launch until at least Saturday. The rocket is carrying the MTSAT-1R satellite, built by Space Systems/Loral. The satellite will be used to replace an aging weather satellite, and will also support air traffic control efforts. The launch will be the first for the H-2A since a November 2003 launch failure.

Related Links:

•  AFP article
•  JAXA/RSC press statement