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Japan's `spy net' puts it ahead in space race

After nearly a decade of trying, Japan has succeeded in establishing a network of spy satellites that can peer in on any point on the globe once a day, officials said yesterday.

The successful launch on Saturday of the fourth and final satellite in the spy network significantly boosted Japan's ability to independently gather intelligence on trouble spots anywhere on the globe and re-establishes Tokyo as a major player in Asia's accelerating space race.

Previously, Japan has had to rely heavily on the US for this type of intelligence.

"I welcome the success of the launch, and I hope Japan's space program will mark results that are appropriate for a leading nation in space," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in a statement after the satellite successfully lifted off aboard an H-2A rocket from a space center on the remote island of Tanegashima.

The spy satellite program, begun after North Korea launched a ballistic missile over Japan's main island in 1998, has been riddled with delays and setbacks -- including a spectacular mid-air explosion just over three years ago and problems with the probes' optics.

But officials said yesterday that the satellite had attained its orbit and was functioning without problems. A prototype for future, more advanced probes was also launched aboard the rocket.

"The satellite will undergo a three-month test period," said Yasuhiro Itakura of the Cabinet office in charge of the program. "But it is functioning fine so far."

The launch reaffirmed Japan as one of Asia's top space powers. Officials have stressed that the Japanese-designed-and-built H-2A rocket has had a better than 90 percent success rate in its 12 launches to date, which is comparable to other advanced countries.

Tokyo needed the boost.

Shortly after its second spy satellite launch was aborted in a fireball in November 2003, China put its first astronauts in orbit, establishing itself as the leader in Asia's push into space.

North Korea in October tested its first nuclear device, China last month blasted a satellite out of orbit with a ground-based missile and, just last week, Pakistan tested one of its most advanced long-range missiles. India, meanwhile, is making rapid advancements in its rocket development and has announced plans to shoot for the moon.

The competition has had a deep impact on Japan's overall goals in space. Though Tokyo's intelligence-gathering satellites are under civilian control, the ruling party has proposed that the military be allowed to use the space program. Since 1969, Japan's space program has been limited to peaceful uses.

The new proposal would change that, but restricts military use of the program to self-defense.

Japan is also mulling the possibility of manned space flight.
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