In Japan, the second communications satellite, Michibiki, was successfully launched. It will help the country create its own GPS, which will improve the accuracy of car navigation systems and smartphone cards.

The satellite was sent into orbit on Thursday morning (Japanese time) with the help of the H-IIA booster rocket. The launch took place in the territory of Tanegashima Space Center in the south of Japan.

"The launch was successful," the press secretary of the Cabinet confirmed.

The first Michibiki satellite was launched in 2010. The third and fourth vehicles will be sent to orbit by March 2018. The Japanese plan to increase the number of their satellites in orbit to seven vehicles by 2023.