Mitsubishi Heavy wins satellite launch order from S. Korea

TOKYO, Jan. 12 Kyodo - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. has received an order from the Korea Aerospace
Research Institute for the launch of a South Korean multipurpose satellite
aided by Japan's domestically developed main rocket the H-2A, it said Monday.
It is the first overseas order receipt for satellite launch operations using a
Japan-made rocket since the government outsourced the manufacturing and launch
of domestically built rockets to Mitsubishi Heavy in fiscal 2007.
However, the major Japanese heavy machinery manufacturer declined to disclose
the amount of the contract.
The launch of the Korea Multipurpose Satellite-3, or KOMPSAT-3, is slated for
fiscal 2011 at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) space center in
Tanegashima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, Mitsubishi
Heavy said in a press release.
During a meeting in Seoul on Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and South
Korean President Lee Myung Bak welcomed the deal, saying the two countries will
further advance cooperation in the science and technology fields.
KOMPSAT-3 is capable of higher image resolution than its predecessors KOMPSAT-1
and KOMPSAT-2, and can provide high resolution electro-optical images required
for geographical information systems and other environmental, agricultural and
oceanographic monitoring applications, Mitsubishi Heavy said.
''Boosted by this first overseas satellite launch services order, MHI now plans
to further enhance its marketing activities in both domestic and overseas
satellite launch services in a quest to advance the future development of
Japan's space industry,'' said the company, which is in fierce competition with
European manufacturers over commercial rocket developments.
JAXA President Keiji Tachikawa said in a statement that he hopes other
countries will follow suit in using the H-2A in the launch of satellites.
==Kyodo
2009-01-12 20:42:51