In a significant milestone for Japan’s space program, the flagship H3 rocket soared into orbit, successfully deploying two small observation satellites in a crucial second test following a setback in its inaugural launch last year. The successful liftoff from the Tanegashima Space Center on Saturday morning comes as a boost for Japan’s aspirations in the global space race.
Originally slated for liftoff two days earlier, the H3 rocket’s launch was postponed due to adverse weather conditions. However, Saturday’s mission proceeded as planned, with the rocket achieving orbit at an altitude of approximately 670 kilometers (about 420 miles) and releasing both satellites, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
Speaking at a news conference, JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa expressed relief and satisfaction at the positive outcome, emphasizing the significance of the achievement. Yamakawa highlighted the H3 rocket’s primary objectives, which include ensuring independent access to space and competing effectively amid increasing international demand for satellite launches. “We made a significant first step today toward achieving that goal,” Yamakawa remarked.
The successful launch marks a notable accomplishment for Japan’s space program, which has recently enjoyed a series of triumphs, including the historic precision landing of an unmanned spacecraft on the moon last month.
The liftoff was closely monitored as a critical test for Japan’s space endeavors following the H3 rocket’s failed debut flight last March, during which it experienced difficulties igniting the second-stage engine. JAXA and its principal contractor, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, have been developing the H3 rocket as a successor to the H-2A, which is scheduled for retirement after two more missions.
As the H3 rocket completed its mission objectives flawlessly, jubilant scenes unfolded at the JAXA command center, with project members celebrating the achievement. Masashi Okada, project manager for the H3, described the outcome as “perfect,” expressing relief and excitement at the successful launch. “After a long wait, the newborn H3 finally had its first cry,” Okada remarked, underscoring the beginning of a new phase for the rocket’s development.
Adorned with thousands of stickers bearing messages of support from across the country, the H3 rocket carried two microsatellites – the observation satellite CE-SAT-IE, developed by Canon Electronics, and TIRSAT, a collaborative effort involving multiple companies and universities. Despite the risks, the satellite makers expressed confidence in the growing market for satellite technology.
With its capability to accommodate larger payloads at significantly lower costs, the 57-meter-long H3 rocket aims to enhance Japan’s competitiveness in the global space industry. Masayuki Eguchi, head of the defense and space segment at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, expressed optimism about the rocket’s future prospects, anticipating improved price competitiveness with a series of successful launches.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida lauded the achievement on social media, citing the successful SLIM moon landing and expressing expectations for further accomplishments in Japan’s space endeavors. Last month, a H-2A rocket successfully deployed a spy satellite into orbit, followed by the groundbreaking “pinpoint” moon landing by JAXA’s unmanned spacecraft SLIM.
