The experimental satellite is looking at how to ensure broadband-speed services across Asia, even when terrestrial infrastructure goes down.

The Kizuna launched at 17:55 pm (0855 GMT) from the Space Centre on the small island of Tanegashima off the southern tip of Kyushu Island, southern Japan.

"The rocket launch went smoothly," a spokeswoman for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in Tokyo said.

Preparations before the launch Saturday included fully loading liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen tanks and checking the radio frequency system between the launch vehicle and ground stations, the agency said.

The launch comes after the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said last week it had discovered a problem with the gas jet thruster for its launch rocket.

Japan, like developing Asian powers China and India, has been stepping up its space operations and has set a goal of sending an astronaut to the moon by 2020.

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