TOKYO, July 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Japan's space agency launched an M-5 rocket on Sunday to deliver a 1.7-ton X-ray astronomy satellite into the Earth orbit to study black holes and other astronomical phenomena.

    The three-stage M-5 rocket lifted off from the Uchinoura Space Center on the eastern coast of Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture, at12:30 a.m. (0330 GMT) Sunday.

    The launch, originally scheduled for Wednesday, was postponed to Sunday due to bad weather.

    If the launch is successful, the ASTRO-E2 satellite would go into a roughly circular orbit in three days around the Earth at analtitude of 570 kilometers, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

    The satellite would be put into operation in about a month following minor adjustments to the orbit and various tests on onboard equipment. Enditem