Space mission

JAPAN launched a spacecraft on a two-year mission to study the planet Venus and its climate.

A rocket carrying the Venus climate orbiter called Akatsuki blasted off from a Japanese space centre in Kagoshima, southern Japan, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.

Akatsuki means “dawn” in Japanese.

Akatsuki is expected to reach Venus’ orbit in December.

The orbiter will circle the planet for two years to examine its climate, including clouds, temperature and wind power, the agency said.

The development cost of Akatsuki was around 25 billion yen (€222.8m).