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Eruption of Volcano Sends Ash Columns Above Russian Peninsula

The Klyuchevskoy volcano, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, erupts in Russia's northern Kamchatka Peninsula, Russian Far Eat, on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Yuri Demyanchuk)
The Klyuchevskoy volcano, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, erupts in Russia's northern Kamchatka Peninsula, Russian Far Eat, on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Yuri Demyanchuk)
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Eruption of Volcano Sends Ash Columns Above Russian Peninsula

The Klyuchevskoy volcano, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, erupts in Russia's northern Kamchatka Peninsula, Russian Far Eat, on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Yuri Demyanchuk)
The Klyuchevskoy volcano, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, erupts in Russia's northern Kamchatka Peninsula, Russian Far Eat, on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Yuri Demyanchuk)

Huge ash columns erupted from Eurasia's tallest active volcano Wednesday, forcing authorities to close schools in two towns on Russia's sparsely populated Kamchatka Peninsula.
The eruptions from the Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano sent ash as high as 13 kilometers (8 miles) above sea level, The Associated Press quoted officials as saying.
There were no reports of injuries, but officials ordered schools in Ust-Kamchatsk and Klyuchy closed as a precaution. Each town has a population of about 5,000. Klyuchy is located about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the volcano and Ust-Kamchatsk 50 kilometers (30 miles) away.
The 4,650-meter (15,255-foot) stratovolcano has been active in recent years and released lava in June.
The Kamchatka Peninsula, which extends into the Pacific Ocean about 6,700 kilometers (4,100 miles) east of Moscow, is noted for its array of active and dormant volcanoes, geysers and geothermal springs.

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Japan Launches Advanced Earth Observation Satellite on New Flagship H3 Rocket

Japan's H3 rocket No. 3 lifts off carrying an Earth observation satellite from the Tanegashima Space Center in Minamitane in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, July 1, 2024, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS
Japan's H3 rocket No. 3 lifts off carrying an Earth observation satellite from the Tanegashima Space Center in Minamitane in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, July 1, 2024, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS
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Japan Launches Advanced Earth Observation Satellite on New Flagship H3 Rocket

Japan's H3 rocket No. 3 lifts off carrying an Earth observation satellite from the Tanegashima Space Center in Minamitane in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, July 1, 2024, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS
Japan's H3 rocket No. 3 lifts off carrying an Earth observation satellite from the Tanegashima Space Center in Minamitane in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, July 1, 2024, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

Japan deployed an upgraded Earth observation satellite for disaster response and security after it was launched on a new flagship H3 rocket Monday.
The H3 No. 3 rocket lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center on a southwestern Japanese island and released its payload about 16 minutes later as planned, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, said during a livestream.
The Advanced Land Observation Satellite, or ALOS-4, is tasked primarily with Earth observation and data collection for disaster response and mapmaking. It's also capable of monitoring military activity, such as missile launches, with an infrared sensor developed by the Defense Ministry, The Associated Press reported.
The rocket appeared to fly as planned, and JAXA is expected to give further details at a news conference later Monday. The launch was initially planned for Sunday but was delayed due to bad weather at the launch site.
The ALOS-4 is a successor to the current ALOS-2 and can observe a much wider area. Japan will operate both for the time being.
The launch was the third of the H3 system, after the successful one on Feb 17. and the shocking failed debut flight a year earlier when the rocket had to be destroyed with its payload — a satellite that was supposed to be the ALOS-3.
Japan sees a stable, commercially competitive space transport capability as key to its space program and national security.
JAXA and its main contractor Mitsubishi Heavy Industries have been developing the H3 launch system as a successor to its current mainstay, H-2A, which is set to retire after two more flights. MHI will eventually take over H3 production and launches from JAXA and hopes to make it commercially viable by cutting the launch cost to about half of the H-2A.