Japan successfully launches a defense satellite carried by a new flagship H3 rocket

Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — Japan has successfully launched a defense satellite designed for speedier communication and military operations on a new flagship H3 rocket, as the country seeks to build up its military capability amid growing tension in the region. The H3 No. 4 rocket lifted off Monday from the Tanegashima Space Center on a southwestern Japanese island. Its payload was separated about half an hour after liftoff and was put into a targeted orbit, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said in a livestream. The launch came after four postponements due to a technical glitch and bad weather.