"It is extremely gratifying," Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said in a statement, "in the sense that our country has established rocket technology of the world's top class."

"With this success, I hope for further progress in development and use of space technology in our country," he said.

Keisuke Yamada, a spokesman for the National Space Development Agency (NASDA), said: "We will continue to build on our successes to gain experience before entering the commercial satellite launch business."

Japan is vying to enter the market, dominated by the United States and Europe, with the new-generation rocket, officials said.

"We plan to have the fourth mission of the H-2A later this year. We hope it will be another success," Yamada added.

The liquid hydrogen and oxygen-fuelled rocket blasted off into a clear blue sky at 5:20 pm (0820 GMT) from the national space centre on Tanegashima, an islet off Kyushu Island in southern Japan.

The experiment module was released from the rocket around 14 minutes after the launch, followed by the satellite that was released about 30 minutes after the lift-off, Nakamura said.

The latest launch was the third since the H-2A's maiden flight in August 2001. A second prototype was sent up on February 4, but while the launch was a success a satellite it was carrying failed to release and deploy.

Earlier, an apparent problem with the data feed from the satellite threatened to delay Tuesday's launch, but engineers traced the glitch to one of two ground-based control consoles.

The experiment module, "Unmanned Space Experiment Recovery System" (USERS), was developed by the Institute for Unmanned Space Experiment Free Flyer, affiliated to the trade and industry ministry.

It will conduct experiments in growing crystals in a "micro-gravity environment" to create the materials necessary to realise super-conductivity, the institute said.

The other payload, a data-relay test satellite, is designed to conduct tests to improve existing satellites' data-relay functions. The satellite will also help communication between ground stations and other satellites.

"It is the first Japanese geostationary satellite to be launched in seven-and-a-half years since (meteorological satellite) Himawari," Nakamura said.

Himawari has already outlasted its intended working life and Japanese meteorological officials are hoping to launch a new satellite next year onboard the H-2A.

"We definitely welcome the latest successful launch of the rocket," said Yassuke Yoshinaga of the satellite section of the Meteorological Agency, which manages Himawari.

"We hope they will continue to gain experience through future launches and we hope they will successfully launch our satellite next year," he said.

The H-2A, which costs 10.2 billion yen (86 million dollars) to launch, is 57 metres (190 feet) long and weighs 348 tonnes.

Development of the H-2A was delayed until 1996 by a series of failures involving its predecessor, the H-2.

earlier report
Last-Minute Hitch Threatens Launch Of Japan's H-2A Rocket
Japanese engineers worked against the clock Tuesday to sort out a last-minute payload glitch which threatened to delay the launch of Japan's H2-A unmanned rocket.

Engineers discovered that a data relay test satellite (DRTS), one of two objects due to be put in orbit, was not displaying data as it should, said Yoshihiro Nakamura, a spokesman for the National Space Development Agency of Japan.

"We are investigating the trouble. We cannot tell what it is. We cannot say how it might affect the launch or how significant a problem it is," he said, declining to comment further.

The launch would be postponed if the problem is not fixed by 4:00 pm (0700 GMT), Jiji Press agency reported.

The lift-off was scheduled for between 5:20 pm and 5:50 pm (0820 to 0850 GMT) from the national space centre on Tanegashima, an islet off southern Kyushu Island.

If the launch goes as scheduled, it would be the third mission involving Japan's new generation of rockets.

The H2-A, which costs 10.2 billion yen (86 million dollars) to launch, is 57 metres (190 feet) long, and weighs 348 tonnes.

The government's DRTS satellite is designed to conduct tests to improve existing satellites' data relay functions.

The other exeprimental module is an "Unmanned Space Experiment Recovery System" (USERS) developed by the Institute for Unmanned Space Experiment Free Flyer, affiliate to the trade and industry ministry.

It will conduct experiments in growing crystals in a "micro-gravity environment" to create the materials necessary to realise super conductivity, the institute said.

Japan is vying to enter the commercial satellite launch market, dominated by the United States and Europe, with the H2-A.

Atsuko Toyama, minister of science, expressed her hopes for a successful lift-off.

"I hope this will help to build public confidence in the H-2A and will lead to its improved international competitiveness," Toyama said.

"Anyway, I hope it will be a success," she added.

The second prototype of the rocket was launched on February 4.

The launch itself was a success, but a satellite, developed separately from the rocket, failed to release and deploy.

The H-2A prototype made its maiden flight in August 2001.

Development of the H-2A been delayed until 1996 by a series of failures involving its predecessor, the H-2.

earlier report
Japan-Space Japan Prepares To Launch H-2A Rocket
Japan's was preparing to launch an unmanned rocket later Tuesday on a mission to take two satellites into space.

"Everything is going as scheduled. The weather is fine. There are no changes to the launch plan," said Hiroshi Inoue, spokesman for the National Space Development Agency of Japan.

With take-off due at between 5:20 pm and 5:50 pm (0820 to 0850 GMT) from the national space centre on Tanegashima, an islet off southern Kyushu Island, this will be the third mission by one of Japan's new generation rockets.

The H2-A, which will cost 10.2 billion yen (86 million dollars) to launch, is 57 metres (190 feet) long, weighs 348 tonnes and will carry two satellites.

One is a data relay test satellite (DRTS), which will conduct demonstration tests to improve existing satellites' data relay functions.

The other is an unmanned space experiment recovery system (USERS). It will conduct experiments to grow crystals of materials necessary to realise super conductivity.

Japan is trying to enter the commercial satellite launch market, dominated by the United States and Europe, with the H2-A.

Atsuko Toyama, minister of science, expressed her hopes for a successful lift-off.

"I hope this will help to build public confidence in the H-2A and will lead to its improved international competitiveness," Toyama said.

"Anyway, I hope it will be a success," she added.

The second prototype of the rocket was launched on February 4.

The launch itself was a success, but a satellite, developed separately from the rocket, failed to separate from it.

The H-2A prototype made its maiden flight in August 2001.

Development of the H-2A since 1996 had been delayed by a series of failures of its predecessor, the H-2.

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