TOKYO - Japan’s space agency was hit with a cyber attack, but the information the hackers accessed did not include anything important for rocket and satellite operations, a spokesperson said on Nov 29.

“There was a possibility of unauthorised access by exploiting the vulnerability of network equipment,” the spokesperson for Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa) said, declining to elaborate on details such as when the attack took place.

The space agency learnt of the possibility of the unauthorised access after receiving information from an external organisation and conducting an internal investigation, the spokesperson said, declining to identify the organisation’s name.

The investigation is ongoing, the spokesperson said.

Japanese media reported on Nov 29 that the cyber attack occurred during the summer and the police became aware of the attack and notified Jaxa this autumn. The Yomiuri newspaper first reported the incident. REUTERS