Strong winds : Japan suspends H-IIA rocket launch for moonshot

 

Launch operator MHI suspends launch because of high-altitude winds 

New launch date to be decided, but will be no sooner than Aug. 

31 -MHI Moon lander SLIM on board to defy Japan's recent space development setbacks 

TOKYO,(Reuters) - Japan's space agency suspended a planned launch on Monday of a rocket carrying what would be the country's first spacecraft to land on the moon, with operator Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) (7011.T) citing high winds. Although the H-IIA rocket, the Japanese flagship launch vehicle, has a 98% launch success rate, unsuitable wind conditions in the upper atmosphere forced a suspension 27 minutes before the planned liftoff. 

"High-altitude winds hit our constraint for a launch... which had been set to ensure no impact from debris falling outside of pre-warned areas," said MHI H-IIA launch unit chief Tatsuru Tokunaga. 

Strong winds of nearly 108 kph (67 mph) were observed at an altitude of 5,000-15,000 metres (16400-49200 ft), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) safety manager Michio Kawakami said. 

Multiple typhoons around Japan could have affected the wind conditions, he added. 

The new launch date has not been decided, but will be no sooner than Thursday because of necessary processes such as re-fuelling, Tokunaga said. 

MHI and JAXA have said a launch could take place as late as Sept. 15. The rocket was to be launched from JAXA's Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan on Monday morning; it had already been postponed twice since last week because of bad weather.

It will mark the 47th H-IIA Japan has launched.