DRTS/USERS Spacecraft/H-IIA F3 Launched

The National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) launched the
H-IIA Launch Vehicle No.3 (H-IIA F3) at 5:20 p.m. on September 10, 2002
(Japan Standard Time) from the Tanegashima Space Center. The H-IIA F3
was loaded with two payloads, the Data Relay Test Satellite (DRTS) and
Unmanned Space Experiment Recovery System (USERS) Spacecraft.
The launch vehicle was lifted off with its initial flight azimuth of 90
degrees.

The H-IIA F3 flew normally and injected USERS Spacecraft in 14 minutes
21 seconds after liftoff and DRTS in 29 minutes 36 seconds into their
respective orbits.

The Chile University Santiago Station started receiving the signal from
DRTS at 5:59 p.m., and it was confirmed that the solar array paddles
were being deployed as scheduled.

NASDA would like to express our appreciation for cooperation and support
of all related personnel and organizations for the launch of the H-IIA
Launch Vehicle No.3.

For your information, the weather at the time of the launch was sunny
with the wind of 3.2 meters/second from the west-north-west, and the
temperature was 26.9 degrees in Celsius.

Launching Information on web site : Count Down
http://h2a.nasda.go.jp/index_e.html