Two research satellites to probe Earth's climate patterns and test ion engine technology to counter atmospheric drag in an unusual low-altitude orbit launched on 23 December 2017 on top of a Japanese H-2A rocket.

The two Japanese-built spacecraft rocketed away from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan on 23 December 2017 at 01:26:22 GMT (8:26:22 p.m. EST Friday) inside the H-2A's payload fairing.

Source: Spaceflight Now

Image credit: JAXA - A Japanese H-2A rocket lifts off at 01:26:22 GMT Saturday (8:26:22 p.m. EST Friday) from the Tanegashima Space Center

Related Missions:

• GCOM-C1 (Global Change Observation Mission- Climate 1) Mission/Shikisai
• SLATS (Super Low Altitude Test Satellite) / Tsubame
• Tsubame (Demonstration Microsatellite of TITech, Tokyo)
• GOCE (Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer)