Japan has launched the first new generation of space rockets, under the impression the design will be able to make future space missions more affordable.
The Epsilon rocket is approximately half the size of Japan's previous generation of space crafts, according to BBC News.
The rocket can use artificial intelligence to "perform safety checks" according to NASA.
NASA said the rocket was carrying a Sprint-A telescope which is being funded by JAXA.
The Sprint-A is set to become the world's first space telescope that can observe planets remotely. The telescope is expected to view planets like Earth, Jupiter, Mars, and Venus from Earth's orbit, according to BBC News.
"One of the features of Epsilon is that rockets can be built in a very short time period. I hope Epsilon will carry satellites more frequently, perhaps every month, not once a year," said Tetsuya Ono, who works for Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
The Epsilon cost approximately $37 million to develop, or half the cost of its predecessor, the M-5. The M-5 was retired in 2006.
The new rocket soared up to the sky at 2 p.m. local time, and could be seen emitting an orange flame with white smoke as it blasted off.
Though it may not seem like it, the race to learn new things about space is still in effect as a number of different space programs will be sending up satellites to help "advance scientific and military goals," according to The Wall-Street Journal.
South Korea launched a two-stage rocket carrying a research satellite at the beginning of 2013, becoming just the 11th country to put a satellite into space with a rocket they developed.
India announced recently that it plans on launching a satellite in October that will orbit Mars, according to The Wall Street Journal.
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