According to the today's press release made by the Space Activity Commission (SAC) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), the launch plan of MTSAT-1R is authorized for this winter period, i.e. in the period from January 1 through February 28 of 2005.
MTSAT-1R, the succeeding satellite to GMS-5 ("Himawari-5") carrying meteorological payload and aeronautical payload, is planned to be launched by the improved H-IIA Launch Vehicle.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the Civil Aviation Bureau (CAB) of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) will continue to exert the greatest possible effort for early start of operation of MTSAT-1R, in order to secure space-based meteorological observation over the western Pacific and to establish the next-generation air navigation system.