TOKYO, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) — Japan postponed on Monday the lift-off of an H2A rocket carrying a probe that may try and make the nation’s first lunar touchdown.
The delay of the mission, because of sturdy winds, was introduced by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the producer of the rocket.
The domestically made rocket was scheduled to launch on Monday morning from Tanegashima Space Center on Tanegashima Island within the southwest prefecture of Kagoshima. A consultant from Mitsubishi said that the launch window lasts till Sept. 15, and a brand new date can be decided.
According to native media shops, the choice to delay was made half-hour earlier than the deliberate lift-off of 9:26 a.m. native time.
The rocket launch, initially slated for May, was postponed after the failure of the nation’s first try and launch the H3 rocket, which can change the H2A rocket, in March.
The mission was then scheduled for Saturday however was twice postponed due to unfavorable climate predictions.
Designed to check expertise for exact landings on the Moon, the rocket is to hold the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency-developed SLIM lunar lander.