The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency on Saturday launched the SOLAR-B observation satellite into orbit, where it will study the sun's magnetic field.
An M-V solid-fuel rocket, Japan's last, carrying the satellite lifted off from Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on schedule at 6:36 a.m., according to a live Web broadcast.
The agency, known as JAXA, confirmed on its Web site that the satellite separated from the rocket and its solar panels have been deployed.