Japan successfully fired a state-owned satellite into orbit on Saturday in a key step towards restoring faith in its space programme, 15 months after its previous launch attempt ended in failure. The Japanese-built H-2A rocket powered into the evening sky leaving a huge plume of vapour above the launch site on the tiny island of Tanegashima, 1,000 km (620 miles) southwest of Tokyo at 6:25 p.m. (0925 GMT). "The satellite separated from the rocket about 40 minutes after takeoff and is now in its initial orbit," Tsukasa Mito, an executive director at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) told a post-launch news conference. The dual-purpose navigation and meteorological satellite is due to start operating in May. Television showed scientists applauding and shaking hands in the control room. "At the moment of takeoff, my heart swelled," said Education and Science Minister Nariaki Nakayama, whose ministry oversees JAXA. "When I heard the satellite had separated successfully, I was relieved, but at the same time I thought it was a matter of course." --More 2201 Local Time 1901 GMT
