* Astronomy

Rocket System Corporation (RSC) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have announced a change in the launch time of the Multi-functional Transport Satellite 2 (MTSAT-2) aboard the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 9 (H-IIA F9) following a collision avoidance analysis with the manned space system(s)* which is performed one day prior to the launch day.
The MTSAT-2 belongs to the Civil Aviation Bureau and the Japan Meteorological Agency under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The launch has been rescheduled to February 18 (Sat), 2006 (Japan Standard Time, JST) at between 3:27 thru 4:44 p.m. (JST)
(The time was originally scheduled between 3:26 thru 4:44 p.m. JST.)


* A collision avoidance analysis is an analysis carried out prior to a rocket launch to avoid a collision with manned space systems, such as the International Space Station, which are in orbit. In principal, a launch vehicle and any of its separated objects should not collide with manned space systems from the launch until its completion of the first round around the earth.