The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has set the launch date of 18 May for its Venus orbiter Atasuki, or Planet-C. The launch, scheduled for 06:44 local time (20:44 GMT) on 18 May from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Tanegashima Space Center, will mark the seventeenth flight of a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-built H-IIA rocket. The flight will also deploy a solar power sail demonstrator called Ikaros and four small payloads manufactured by universities and other institutions.

Atasuki/Planet-C Venus orbiter
 © JAXA
The JAXA Venus orbiter Atasuki is scheduled for launch on 18 May from the Tanegashima Space Center

Source: Flight International

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