Japan's space agency reported that its H3 rocket encountered a failure during a mission to deploy a navigation satellite, preventing the payload from reaching its intended orbit.
Launch Incident Details
On Monday, the H3 rocket lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center carrying the Michibiki 5 satellite, which was intended to enhance Japan's positioning capabilities. However, the mission did not proceed as planned.
Masashi Okada, a JAXA executive and launch director, explained at a news conference that the second-stage engine experienced an unexpected early shutdown. He stated, "Whether the satellite was released into space or where it ended up is unknown, and that JAXA is investigating the data to determine the cause and other details."
Official Responses and Implications
Jun Kondo, an official at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, expressed disappointment, calling the failure "extremely regrettable." He added that the government has established a task force to investigate the cause and implement necessary measures promptly to "regain credibility."
This incident represents the second failure for the H3 rocket, following an unsuccessful debut in March 2023. The setback delays Japan's satellite launch initiatives, including efforts to develop a more independent geolocation system for applications such as smartphones, maritime navigation, and drones, reducing reliance on the U.S. GPS.
Background and Future Plans
The H3 rocket is designed to be cost-competitive in the global space market, with Japan viewing a stable and commercially viable space transport capability as crucial for its space program and national security.
Makoto Arita, JAXA's H3 project manager, emphasized the rocket's potential, saying, "We will pull ourselves together so that we won't fall behind rivals. We'll fully investigate the cause and put H3 back on track."
Monday's launch occurred after a previous attempt was aborted just 17 seconds before liftoff due to an issue with the launch facility's water spray system.
Japan currently operates the quasi-zenith satellite system (QZSS) with five satellites, which began service in 2018. The Michibiki 5 was intended to be the sixth satellite in this network. Plans include expanding to a seven-satellite system by March 2026 and an 11-satellite network by the late 2030s.
