Himawari-9/H-IIA F31 launch Himawari-9 geostationary meteorological satellite was launched by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 31 (H-IIA F31) from Yoshinobu Launch Complex, Tanegashima, Japan, on 02 November 2016, at 06:20 UTC. Credit: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)