Japan launched a flagship H3 rocket carrying a Defense Ministry communications satellite on Monday, its third consecutive successful liftoff after a failed debut in 2023.
The H3 series is the successor to the current H2A vehicle, which has supported Japan’s space development for more than 20 years and will be retired after one final launch, possibly at the end of March.
Rocket No. 4 H3 will put the defense satellite into orbit at an altitude of about 36,000 kilometers. The satellite, along with two others already operational, is intended to improve communications for the country’s Self-Defense Forces.
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The rocket, developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., took off from the Tanegashima Space Center in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima.
The launch was initially scheduled for October 20, but was repeatedly postponed due to weather conditions and other reasons.
The H3 debuted in March 2023, but its maiden flight ended with a self-destruct order minutes after takeoff because the second stage engine failed to ignite. Rockets No. 2 and No. 3 were successfully launched in February and July of this year.
Competition in the space business has intensified since the entry into the market of the American company SpaceX, which has revolutionary technology and a solid history of rocket launches.
Source: https://reporteasia.com/sociedad/2024/11/04/japon-lanza-cohete-insignia-h3/
