TANEGASHIMA, Kagoshima Pref. (Kyodo) Japan launched a rocket Friday carrying a satellite aimed at studying the concentration of greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere, as well as seven small orbiters, including those developed by university students.
Shortly before 1 p.m. the domestically built H-IIA rocket carrying the Ibuki satellite was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture.
The Ibuki successfully separated from the rocket 16 minutes after liftoff. The seven small satellites also separated from the rocket and were expected to enter orbit later in the day.
Under the planned operation, the Ibuki will become the first of its kind in the world to observe the concentration of greenhouse gases from space, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.
The satellite is expected to play an important role in combating global warming, as it will allow better understanding of how much carbon dioxide the ecosystem actually absorbs and emits.
The satellite will orbit the Earth at an altitude of some 666 km.