Updated on Monday, December 18, 2006, 00:00 IST

Tokyo, Dec 18: Japan today launched one of the world's largest geostationary satellites in a bid to improve mobile telephone reception in remote areas.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launched the H-2A rocket at 3:32 pm (12:02 IST) as planned after a postponement Saturday due to cloudy weather at the launch site at Tanegashima in southern Japan.

The experimental satellite, which is known as Kiku Number 8, is the largest built by Japan's space agency. It weighs 5.8 tons and is 40 meters (131 feet) long.

"The satellite successfully separated from the rocket about 30 minutes after the launch of the rocket," space agency spokesman Naohiko Kotake told a news conference at Tanegashima station.

"From this point on, the satellite will continue its flight toward a stationary orbit," he said with a beaming grin as he shook hands with colleagues.

Kiku Number 8's antennas, among the longest ever developed for a satellite, are its key attribute, an agency statement said.

"This function is expected to be very useful in our daily lives, for example in some mountainous areas and at sea where no ground stations are available," the statement said.

The satellite is also aimed at helping communication between emergency vehicles and rescue workers after natural disasters.

"The satellite will start receiving and sending data on December 25, Christmas day, and will get into normal operation on December 26," Kotake said in the webcasted news conference.

Bureau Report