Japan's 1st launch of 2024 sends spy satellite to orbit

Japan's first launch of 2024 is in the books. An H-2A rocket topped with a reconnaissance satellite called IGS Optical 8 lifted off from Tanegashima Space Center on Thursday (Jan. 11) at 11:44 p.m. EST (0444 GMT and 1:44 p.m. local Japan time on Jan. 12). Everything went smoothly, according to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which built and operates the H-2A. More

(Source: Space.com - Jan 13)