Today the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 26 with the asteroid explorer “Hayabusa2” onboard was successfully launched.

The asteroid explorer “Hayabusa” sent a clear message around the world about Japan’s technological strengths. What is more, it gave many of the people of Japan courage, hope and dreams. The plan is for its successor, “Hayabusa2,” to obtain samples from an asteroid that is considered to contain organic and hydrated minerals and return to earth. I am truly delighted by the successful completion of the initial stage of this mission, which is the first of its kind in the world.

It also gives me great pleasure that this marks the 25th consecutive successful launch of one of Japan’s flagship launch vehicles, a testament to the high reliability of Japan’s space technologies.

I would like to express my respect for the untiring efforts of all persons involved in the project to date. For my part, I will press forward with the promotion of the Government’s space policies to ensure that today’s successful launch leads to further advances in space science and the space industry in Japan.

December 3, 2014
Shinzo Abe
Prime Minister of Japan