WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — California-based Rocket Lab, which specializes in putting small satellites into orbit, launched a Japanese satellite on Friday from the space company’s complex on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula.

The launch of the “The Moon God Awakens” mission, originally planned for Wednesday, was delayed due to predicted high winds. The Electron rocket successfully launched at 5:06 p.m. in the local time zone (0406 GMT).

Rocket Lab stated that the TSUKUYOMI-I satellite was successfully delivered into orbit by the rocket, representing the Japanese company Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space Inc. The statement was released over two hours after the launch.

Rocket Lab stated that the satellite, which is named after a deity in Japanese mythology associated with the moon, will utilize synthetic-aperture radar technology to capture images of the Earth.

This will be the 10th mission of Rocket Lab in 2023, surpassing their previous yearly record of nine missions in 2022.

This is the 42nd time that an Electron has been launched from either Mahia or the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in Wallops Island, Virginia, since 2017. Rocket Lab was originally established in New Zealand in 2006.

Source: wral.com