A Japanese H2-A rocket bound for the Moon blasted off on Thursday morning, in the country’s latest attempt at a lunar landing.
If successful, Japan would become the fifth nation to successfully land a spacecraft on the Moon after India achieved the feat last month.
The launch of the rocket, which was manufactured and operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, had been delayed several times due to weather conditions. It carries Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s lightweight lander, which will attempt a lunar touchdown early next year.
Japan’s H3 rocket, its newest and largest in three decades, failed to launch in March. Tokyo start-up ispace failed with its first commercial attempt to land on the Moon in April.
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