MTSAT-2 was successfully launched at 06:27 UTC on 18 February 2006. The satellite was sent into space on an H-IIA launch vehicle from the Tanegashima Space Center. The satellite was separated from the H-IIA launch vehicle 28 minutes after the lift-off.
Further procedures are underway to inject MTSAT-2 into geostationary orbit. The in-orbit test of MTSAT-2 will be started in five days.