Epsilon developer achieves 'revolution' in rocket biz

Epsilon developer achieves 'revolution' in rocket biz

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - Yasuhiro Morita, professor at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, poses for photos on Sept. 14, 2013 at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture after watching Japan's new solid-fuel rocket Epsilon's liftoff. Morita led the development team of the Epsilon, Japan's first new rocket in 12 years incorporating artificial intelligence.

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - A boy uses binoculars to see Japan's new solid-fuel rocket Epsilon as it sits on the launch pad at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture, on the morning of Sept. 14, 2013, ahead of its liftoff that afternoon.

New rocket's launch pad unveiled

New rocket's launch pad unveiled

KAGOSHIMA, Japan - Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency practices transferring a full-scale imitation of the Epsilon Launch Vehicle from a 47-meter-high maintenance tower to its launch pad at Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture, on April 18, 2013. The 24-meter-long Epsilon will be launched in August or September with a spectrographic planet observation satellite onboard.

New rocket's launch pad unveiled

New rocket's launch pad unveiled

KAGOSHIMA, Japan - Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency practices transferring a full-scale imitation of the Epsilon Launch Vehicle from a 47-meter-high maintenance tower to its launch pad at Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture, on April 18, 2013. The 24-meter-long Epsilon will be launched in August or September with a spectrographic planet observation satellite onboard.

Japan's M5 rocket lifts off, puts into orbit astronomical satellite

Japan's M5 rocket lifts off, puts into orbit astronomical satellite

KOMOTSUKI, Japan - Scientists and officials of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency pose for photos at a press conference after the Japanese-developed M5 rocket, launched from the Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture in southwestern Japan on Feb. 22, successfully put into orbit the infrared ray astronomical satellite Astro-F.

Japan's M5 rocket lifts off, puts into orbit astronomical satellite

Japan's M5 rocket lifts off, puts into orbit astronomical satellite

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - The Japanese-developed M5 rocket lifts off from the Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture in southwestern Japan on Feb. 22. It successfully put into orbit the infrared ray astronomical satellite Astro-F, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.

Japan's M5 rocket lifts off, puts into orbit astronomical satellite

Japan's M5 rocket lifts off, puts into orbit astronomical satellite

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - The Japanese-developed M5 rocket carrying the infrared ray astronomical satellite Astro-F shoot up into the sky on Feb. 22. The rocket launched from the Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture in southwestern Japan successfully put the satellite into orbit, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.

Japan's M5 rocket lifts off, puts into orbit astronomical satellite

Japan's M5 rocket lifts off, puts into orbit astronomical satellite

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - The Japanese-developed M5 rocket lifts off from the Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture in southwestern Japan on Feb. 22. It successfully put into orbit the infrared ray astronomical satellite Astro-F, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.