Japan launches weather satellite

Japan Tuesday launched a weather satellite in a bid to improve the accuracy of weather forecasts related to natural disasters.

The H-2A rocket, which carries the Himawari-8, lifted off at 2.16 p.m. from the Tanegashima Space Centre, Japan Times reported.

The satellite is expected to be placed in a geostationary orbit about 35,800 km above the Equator, Japan Meteorological Agency said.

The new weather observation satellite, the first since the currently operating Himawari-7 which was launched in February 2006, will shoot images every 10 minutes compared with every 30 minutes by the Himawari-7.