The launch of a new multifunctional satellite, originally scheduled for this summer, has been put off until next year due to a problem with its weather observation camera, the Meteorological Agency said Tuesday.

A sensor that controls lens focus is not working properly, an agency official said. It will take a few months to repair the part and run tests before launching the satellite, meaning the launch will be delayed until January.

If all goes well, the satellite will go into operation in March, the official said.

The multifunctional satellite will serve as a successor to the Himawari No. 5, Japan's sole geostationary weather observation satellite, and will also be used for aviation control.

It was originally scheduled to go into operation in December and take over from a U.S. satellite that will serve as a temporary backup for Himawari No. 5.

Beginning May 22, the U.S. Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-9 will temporarily take over the functions of the Himawari No. 5 in accordance with an agreement between Japan and the United States in May 2002. The GOES-9 will provide digital images for Japanese weather reports.

Under the terms of the accord, Japan will rent and operate the GOES-9 until the new Japanese satellite goes into operation.

The Himawari No. 5 currently takes hourly pictures for use in Japanese weather reports.

Its original successor was lost when an H-II rocket launch in November 1999 failed. , and it has served about three years past its intended life span.