Celebrations from the Japanese Space Agency: After a failed attempt, the new H3 launch vehicle has successfully launched. The 63 meter high rocket was developed for eight years. Japan hopes to be able to compete with SpaceX.
Japan has successfully launched its new H3 launch vehicle from the Tanegashima Cosmodrome. The mission carried a dummy satellite and two tiny satellites on board. The rocket entered its planned orbit after the successful launch, said the Japanese space agency Jaxa.
Cheers and applause rang out from the Jaxa control center after the agency’s livestream showed that the rocket’s engines had successfully ignited. This means that it had reached Earth’s orbit.
First new development in 30 years
The H3 has significant importance for the Japanese space industry. The 63-meter-high, 574-ton rocket with a transport capacity of up to six tons is said to be cheaper and more reliable than its predecessors. The H3 is the successor to the reliable H2A rocket and Japan’s first new development of its own large launch vehicle in around 30 years.
With the new launch vehicle, the country wants to gain a stronger foothold in the lucrative and increasingly competitive satellite transport business. H3 is intended to compete with other launch vehicles such as the Falcon 9 from the US company SpaceX.
In addition, the rocket, developed over eight years, is intended to send an unmanned cargo transporter to the international space station ISS as part of the US-led Artemis program.
Problems with the first start attempt
During a first launch attempt last year, the engine of the second rocket stage failed to ignite. The ignition system for the rocket that has now been launched has been improved after the problems with the first example, as the space agency Jaxa announced.