This handout photo taken on Sept 7, 2023 and released by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) shows an H-IIA rocket carrying a small lunar surface probe and other objects lifting off from the Tanegashima Space Centre on Tanegashima island, Kagoshima prefecture. (PHOTO / AFP)

TOKYO — Mitsubishi Heavy Industries launched an H-IIA rocket carrying the Japanese government's Information-Gathering Satellite "Optical-8", the company said in a post on social media X on Friday.

It was the 48th launch of Japan's flagship launch vehicle since 2001, bringing the success rate of the rocket, developed by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, to 97.92 percent.

READ MORE: Japan's space agency to launch 2nd H3 rocket in February

Japan plans to retire H-IIA after two more launches and replace it with H3, but has been struggling with the transition after JAXA's first test launch failed in March last year. The H3's second test launch is slated for Feb 15.