Successful launch of H-IIA F 21 with SHIZUKU and SDS-4 aboard

The launch of the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 21 with The Global Change Observation Satellite 1st – Water “SHIZUKU” and Small Demonstration Satellite-4 (SDS-4) aboard was successfully performed at 1:39 a.m. on May 18 (Fri.) 2012 (Japan Standard Time).

The launch vehicle flew normally and separated from the SDS-4. It has been also confirmed that the SHIZUKU was also separated at about 22 minutes and 59 seconds after liftoff. The SHIZUKU will conduct critical phase operations including deploying the AMSR2 antenna.

At the time of the launch, the weather was fine, a wind speed was 4.9 meters/second from the west-north-west and the temperature was 18.7 degrees Celsius.