Japan sends new spy satellite into space

 　　TOKYO, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Japan's H-2A rocket carrying a new information gathering¹ satellite was launched at the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on Friday, local media reported.

　　Japan has already introduced three information-gathering satellites in the wake of a missile launch by Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and the latest one will replace the No. 2 satellite which has passed its use-by date, Kydo News said.

　　The development cost of the fourth satellite has reached 35.9 billion yen² and its launch expenses have come to 10.4 billion yen, according to the government.

　　The Japan Aerospace³ Exploration Agency and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. were forced to put off the launch three times during the past four weeks due to the approach of a powerful typhoon and discovery of a system glitch⁴. The rocket was initially⁵ scheduled to be sent into orbit on Aug. 28.

1 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

2 yen   

n. 日元；热望

参考例句：

• He wanted to convert his dollars into Japanese yen.他想将美元换成日币。
• He has a yen to be alone in a boat.他渴望独自呆在一条船上。

3 aerospace   

adj.航空的，宇宙航行的

参考例句：

• The world's entire aerospace industry is feeling the chill winds of recession.全世界的航空航天工业都感受到了经济衰退的寒意。
• Edward Murphy was an aerospace engineer for the US Army.爱德华·墨菲是一名美军的航宇工程师。

4 glitch   

n.干扰；误操作，小故障

参考例句：

• There is a glitch in the computer program somewhere.这个计算机程序中的某个部分有点小问题。
• It could just be a random glitch that can be solved by restarting the machine.可能只是一个小故障，重新启动主机就能解决了。

5 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。