TOKYO, August 27 (RIA Novosti) - Japan is set to launch on Tuesday its new light-class Epsilon carrier rocket with a scientific research satellite, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said.
According to the agency, Epsilon-1 carrying the Spectroscopic Planet Observatory for Recognition of Interaction of Atmosphere (SPRINT-A) satellite is scheduled to blast off from the Uchinoura Space Center at 1:45 p.m. local time (4:45 a.m. GMT).
Epsilon carrier rocket was designed and built to replace the M-5 rocket, a similar vehicle that carried out seven successful space missions between 1997 and 2006.
The three-stage solid-fuel launcher is designed to lift more than 2,600 pounds to low Earth orbit. The M-5 rocket could haul about 4,000 pounds to a similar orbit.
However, the launch of the Epsilon will cost about $38.5 million compared to the M-5, which carried a $70 million price tag for each launch.
