Japanese national space agency JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. would launch an H-2A rocket with a radar intelligence satellite early next year, the Kyodo news agency reported on Tuesday.

The launch is tentatively scheduled for January 27, 2013.

The satellite will become Japan's second able to take clear images of objects as small as one meter. It will also be able to perform its duties at night and regardless of weather conditions.

Japan currently relies on H-2A and M-5 rockets for its space launches. The previous launch of H-2A was carried out on May 18 to orbit four satellites.

Source: RIA Novosti