Japanese Rocket Takes Off for Moon After Troublesome Year
- Lightweight lander scheduled to reach moon by early January
- Successful launch follows weather delay, high-profile failures
This article is for subscribers only.
A Japanese rocket bound for the moon took off early Thursday, offering relief to a battered national space program following a string of weather delays, major setbacks and high-profile failures.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s H2-A rocket lifted off around 8:42 a.m. local time from Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan. It was originally scheduled to launch in August but was delayed three times on concerns over bad weather.