Press Release

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Launch Postponement of
Venus Climate Orbiter 'AKATSUKI' (PLANET-C)
by H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 17

May 18, 2010 (JST)

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency would like to announce that we have decided to postpone the launch of the Venus Climate Orbiter "AKATSUKI" (PLANET-C) by H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 17 (H-IIA F17) as we observed clouds including a freezing layer (see attachment) that exceeded the restrictions for suitable weather.

The launch was originally scheduled for May 18, 2010 (Japan Standard Time, JST) from the Tanegashima Space Center.

We will inform the new launch date as soon as it is determined.