Tokyo  - Japan on Friday launched an H2A rocket carrying its Ibuki satellite on a mission to examine the effects of greenhouse gases on the Earth's atmosphere.

The Ibuki satellite is to observe for five years the concentration of carbon dioxide and methane, which cause global warming, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, which makes the H2A rocket.

The satellite is to measure levels of greenhouse gases at 56,000 locations around the globe, the agency said.

The launch took place at the Tanegashima Space Centre in the southern province of Kagoshima and included seven smaller satellites that were developed by universities, private businesses and by the agency to study communications functions.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which earlier this month received an order from the Korea Aerospace Research Institute to launch a satellite, hopes to boost its space business if this mission succeeds, Jiji Press said. (dpa)