Japanese-built H-2A rocket lifts off carrying first commercial satellite

An H-2A rocket carrying a Canadian communications satellite lifted off from Tanegashima Island in southwestern Japan on Tuesday, marking the first time a commercial satellite has been launched into space by the Japanese-built platform.

The rocket, launched at 3.50 pm. from the Tanegashima Space Centre in Kagoshima Prefecture, has an improved second-stage engine aimed at carrying satellites farther in distance and closer to the Earth's geostationary orbit during its four-and-a-half-hour flight.

The payload on Tuesday's launch is Telesat Holdings’ broadcast and communications satellite named Telstar 12 Vantage, which is expected to provide coverage to Europe, Africa and South America.

Improvements made to the rocket mean a satellite carried on the vehicle will need to travel a shorter distance on its own to reach its intended orbit and thus allow it to operate longer while above the Earth.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency spent 9.2 billion yen (HK$580 million) on the modification. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which builds and operates H-2A rockets, hopes the improvement will help it land more satellite launch orders.

H-2A rockets had carried only government satellites to space since their first launch in 2001.