TOKYO (AP) -- Japan is proclaiming the launch of the first satellite dedicated to monitoring carbon dioxide emissions a success.
The satellite was sent into orbit today along with seven other piggyback probes on a Japanese H2A rocket. Japan's space agency says officials are monitoring the satellites to make sure that they entered orbit properly.
The satellite is called "Ibuki," which is Japanese for "breath." It will circle the globe every 100 minutes and store information on greenhouse gas levels around the globe for the next five years.
The data will be shared with NASA in the United States and other space and scientific organizations.
The U.S. will launch a similar satellite in one month that will map the global distribution of carbon dioxide.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
