"Kizuna" Super-High-Speed Internet Satellite Launched in Japan

The Satellite - a joint project of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries - was launched from the Space Centre on Tanegashima island at 5:55 p.m. local time in the south of Japan on Saturday night. The satellite is also known as WINDS, or Wideband InterNetworking engineering test and Demonstration Satellite.

"The KIZUNA does not require costly ground equipment. If you install a small antenna (about 45 cm in diameter) at your house, you can receive data at up to 155Mbps and transmit data at up to 6 Mbps. With a larger antenna of about 5 meters in diameter, super high-speed data communications of up to 1.2 Gbps will be available." Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency states on a press release.

Among other purposes of the project, Jaxa will to contribute to "remote medicine," allowing medical treatment to people located in remote areas. Other uses may contribute to academic and educational fields, schools and researchers in remote areas to ease the exchange of information.

The $342 million satellite is expected to be in use for five years, according to Agence France Press.