Mitsubishi Heavy launches H-IIA rocket carrying Japan's spy satellite

The logo of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is seen at the company headquarters in Tokyo, Japan December 8, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo

TOKYO (Reuters) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries launched an H-IIA rocket carrying the Japanese government's Information-Gathering Satellite "Optical-8", the company said in a post on social media X on Friday.

It was the 48th launch of Japan's flagship launch vehicle since 2001, bringing the success rate of the rocket, developed by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), to 97.92%.