Posted: Fri, Sep 14, 2007, 7:32 AM ET (1132 GMT)
An H-2A rocket successfully launched an ambitious, long-delayed Japanese lunar orbiter mission on Friday. The H-2A lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center at 9:31 pm EDT Thursday (0131 GMT, 10:31 am local time Friday), carrying the Kaguya lunar orbiter spacecraft. The Japanese space agency JAXA declared the launch a success, with the spacecraft separating from the rocket's upper stage 45 minutes after liftoff. Kaguya, formerly known as SELENE, consists of a large main orbiter and two smaller sub-satellites which are carrying a large array of cameras, spectrometers, and other instruments to study the Moon. The launch had been delayed for several years because of problems with the development of the spacecraft.

Related Links:

•  Los Angeles Times article
•  SPACE.com article
•  Asahi Shimbun article
•  AP article
•  JAXA press release