Japan's H-2A Successfully Carries GPM Observatory Into Orbit

MINAMITANE, JAPAN - FEBRUARY 28: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Director of the Earth Science Division Michael Freilich speaks during a press conference after the H-2A Launch Vehicle No. 23 carrying the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) core observatory onboard lift-off from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Tanegashima Space Center on February 28, 2014 in Minamitane, Japan. The GPM core observatory is a joint Earth-observing mission between NASA and JAXA aimed at better understanding the Earth's weather and climate cycles. (Photo by The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images)