Japan launched its fifth spy satellite into orbit Saturday in a bid to boost its ability to independently gather intelligence, the government said. The domestically developed H-2A rocket carrying the $565 million satellite lifted off from a space center on the southern island of Tanegashima, said Hisashi Michigami, an official at the Cabinet Office. «The satellite will gather intelligence for our defense and diplomatic purposes,» Michigami said. «We hope to upgrade our ability to gather intelligence on our own. Intelligence gathering is vital to our national security.» Michigami said the launch was successful, according to a report of the Associated Press.
