Japan successfully launches asteroid probe

TOKYO, Dec 4 (AFP):  Japan on Wednesday successfully launched a probe destined for a distant asteroid on a six-year mission, just weeks after a European spacecraft's historic landing on a comet.

The explorer, Hayabusa 2, blasted off aboard Japan's main H-IIA rocket from Tanegashima Space Center in the south of the country.

The rocket roared up out of the Earth's gravitational pull trailed by orange flames at 1:22 pm (0422 GMT) after launch delays due to bad weather.

Hayabusa2 was successfully separated from the H-IIA and entered the intended orbit around the planet at the start of its mission, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

The probe will use the Earth's gravity as a slingshot to propel it towards its target.

Television footage showed JAXA crew at ground control clapping as the launch was confirmed a success, while social media users around the world tweeted their congratulations.

The 31-billion-yen ($260-million) project will send the explorer towards the 1999JU3 asteroid in deep space.