Japan launches "Epsilon" rocket from Kagoshima

Japan's space agency JAXA announced Saturday afternoon that it had successfully launched its first rocket in twelve years, the Epsilon, from the Uchinoura Space Center, which is located in the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Kagoshima.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said the new solid- fuel rocket lifted off at 2:00 p.m. local time to carry a planet- observing satellite, and the satellite has successfully gone into orbit around the earth since it was detached in the final stage of the rocket launch.

The 24-meter Epsilon, which is about half the size of Japan's chief H2A type rocket, can carry 1.2 tons to boost scientific payloads into low Earth orbit.

The launch was watched by thousands of people in Kagoshima.

Souvenir shops and restaurants enjoyed brisk business as a result.