Japan to review GX rocket plan: report

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan will review plans to produce a rocket to launch satellites that is being jointly developed by the government and the private sector, partly due to increased costs, the daily Yomiuri Shimbun reported on Sunday.

The daily said the rocket, known as the GX, was due to be launched in the financial year starting April 2011, five years behind an initial plan.

Private investors were forced to look for a new engine manufacturer after a U.S. company that was initially due to provide the part stopped production, the daily said.

The move is expected to add another 45 billion yen ($394.6 million) in costs.

Japanese heavy machinery maker IHI Corp is leading the private-sector effort, the Yomiuri said.

Japan launched its first lunar probe in September, four years behind schedule because of technical glitches.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has said it hopes to send astronauts to the moon by 2025, although Japan has not yet attempted manned space flight.

(Reporting by Miho Yoshikawa; Editing by David Fogarty)