IGS Optical 7H-IIA 202 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Launch Status Success Sat · Feb 8th, 2020 8:34 PM - 8:39 PM EST Watch Online https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBtfD_uvBJg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5fNEf5ANdQ Mission IGS Optical 7 Type: Government/Top Secret Information Gathering Satellite (IGS) is a Japanese governmental spy satellite program. IGS Optical 7, as the name suggests, is an optical reconnaissance satellite. Japan began development of IGS in the late 1990s, following North Korea’s attempted satellite launch in 1998. Although the North Korean launch failed to reach orbit, the rocket carrying it crossed Japan during its ascent, sparking fears that North Korean missiles would be able to target the islands. With IGS, Japan aimed to develop an independent reconnaissance capability to monitor future threats. The constellation can also be used for disaster monitoring and other civilian applications by the Japanese government. Location Yoshinobu Launch Complex Tanegashima, Japan 35 launches have been at this location. Rocket H-IIA 202 Length: 53 meters Diameter: 4 meters First Launched: August 29, 2001 H-IIA (H2A) is an active expendable launch system operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The liquid-fueled H-IIA rockets have been used to launch satellites into geostationary orbit, to launch a lunar orbiting spacecraft, and to launch Akatsuki, which studied the planet Venus. Launches occur at the Tanegashima Space Center. The H-IIA 202 rocket has been launched a total of 22 times with 22 successful and 0 failed launches. Agency Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Type: Commercial Abbreviation: MHI Administration: Seiji Izumisawa Founded: 1884 Launchers: H-I, H-II, H-III Spacecraft: Kounotori, HTV Country: JPN Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. is a Japanese multinational engineering, electrical equipment and electronics company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. MHI is one of the core companies of the Mitsubishi Group. MHI's products include aerospace components, air conditioners, aircraft, automotive components, forklift trucks, hydraulic equipment, machine tools, missiles, power generation equipment, printing machines, ships and space launch vehicles. Through its defense-related activities, it is the world's 23rd-largest defense contractor measured by 2011 defense revenues and the largest based in Japan. View Rocket Launch Schedule