Launch Postponment of the IBUKI (GOSAT) aboard H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 15

January 20, 2009 (JST) Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency were scheduled to launch the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite “IBUKI” (GOSAT) by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 15 (H-IIA F15) on January 22, 2009 (Japan Standard Time, JST) from the Tanegashima Space Center; however, we decided to reschedule the launch date to January 23 (JST) as an excessive volume of clouds including a freezing layer are expected to cover the launch site around the launch time on the 22nd.

The launch time is between 12:54 p.m. and 1:16 p.m. on the 23rd (JST.)

We continue to examine the weather after tomorrow to make the ultimate decision of the launch on Jan. 23.