Posted: Fri, Mar 27, 2015, 3:10 PM ET (1910 GMT)
An H-2A rocket launched the latest in a series of reconnaissance satellites for the Japanese government on Thursday. The H-2A lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center at 9:21 pm EDT Wednesday (0121 GMT, 10:21 am local time Thursday) carrying the Information Gathering Satellite (IGS) Optical 5 satellite. The spacecraft is the latest in a series of spacecraft that provide high-resolution images for the Japanese government. The new satellite will replace one launched in 2009.

Related Links:

•  NASASpaceFlight.com article
•  AFP article
•  Xinhua article
•  Yomiuri Shimbun article