The first launch of the H-IIA rocket, originally scheduled for early next year, will be delayed at least until May or June because of Monday's failure of the No. 8 H-II rocket launch, officials of the National Space Development Agency of Japan said Wednesday.
It is the first sign that Monday's failure of the Japanese-made rocket, which carried a multipurpose satellite, is casting a shadow over the nation's attempt to enter the global market for satellite launches.
The H-IIA is the cheaper successor to the H-II, and is being developed as Japan's first commercial rocket.