Posted: Tue, Dec 13, 2011, 7:14 AM ET (1214 GMT)
A Japanese rocket launched the latest in a series of reconnaissance satellites for the country on Monday. The H-2A lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan at 8:21 pm EST Sunday (0121 GMT, 10:21 am local time Monday) and placed an Information Gathering Satellite (IGS) into orbit. Japanese officials released few details about the mission, although this IGS is believed to have a radar imaging payload. Monday's flight follows the launch of another IGS spacecraft, with an optical imager, earlier this year; another radar satellite is expected to launch next year.

Related Links:

•  Spaceflight Now article
•  AP article
•  NASASpaceFlight.com article
•  Mainichi Daily News article