The rocket carrying TSUBAME blasts off JAXA
A satellite designed to orbit the earth at the lowest altitude ever has been successfully launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
The 400-kilogram satellite – known as Tsubame – will be used to take high-resolution images of Earth and measure oxygen levels. If successful, it may pave the way for more super-low-orbit satellites that are easier and cheaper to launch.
Tsubame initially began orbiting at an altitude of 480 kilometres, but will be gradually lowered over the next two years to test how far it can go. It is being driven by…
