Japan launches rocket carrying foreign satellite

A Japanese rocket carrying a communications satellite for a Canadian company was launched into space on Tuesday.

It is Japan's first dedicated commercial satellite launch, public broadcaster NHK reported.

The H2A rocket blasted off from the Tanegashima Space Centre in southern Japan at 3.50 p.m. (local time).

Engineers plan to release the communications satellite when the rocket reaches an altitude of 34,000 km after four-and-a-half hours into the flight.