The H-IIA Launch Vehicle No.2 (H-IIA/F2) was launched at 11:45 a.m. on February 4, 2002 (Japan Standard Time) from Tanegashima Space Center. The launch vehicle was lifted off with its flight azimuth of 96 degrees.
The H-IIA Launch Vehicle No.2 flew normally and injected the second stage into the geostationary transfer orbit. The separation of the Mission Demonstration test Satellite-1 (MDS-1) was confirmed about 46 minutes 51 seconds after the lift-off and the solid strap-on boosters (SSB) were normally burnout and separated. NASDA has successfully acquired the data of the preliminary third ignition test of the second stage engine.