H3 will replace the H-IIA rocket on its second attempt, which has been in service since 2001
Japanese space agency JAXA successfully launched the new generation H3 rocket developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The launch took place from the Tanegashima Cosmodrome on Saturday. On board the rocket was a mock-up of the VEP-4 satellite, weighing 2.6 tons, created to test the performance of H3. In addition, the rocket also carried two small satellites. JAXA initially planned to mount the Daichi-4 satellite on the second H3 model. But after the loss of Daichi-3, which had cost 28.2 billion yen ($187.6 million) to develop, the plan was changed.
H3 — Japan's flagship rocket intended to replace the H-IIA, which has been in service since 2001. The main goal of creating H3 — provide Japan with independent access to space and stimulate the development of related industries.
JAXA aims to reduce the cost of H3 launches to attract commercial customers and increase launch frequency. The plan is to reach a price of 5 billion yen ($33.3 million) per spacecraft, which is half the cost of launching satellites on H-IIA. For this purpose, parts will be used, in particular, created on a 3D printer.
A few minutes after launch, the boosters and protective fairing separated from the 57-meter, 422-ton rocket, then the first of two microsatellites was launched into orbit — CE-SAT-IE, created by Canon Electronics, equipped with optical sensors for rapid imagery of natural disasters. A few minutes later, the second TIRSAT microsatellite, equipped with a thermal imaging infrared camera, was launched into orbit. This satellite will allow temperature measurements in industrial facilities and help monitor the supply chain.
After the successful launch, JAXA chief Hiroshi Yamakawa expressed satisfaction with the mission's results and expressed the agency's intention to expand cooperation with the private sector and foreign partners.
JAXA is planning H3 launches for the near future as the current H-IIA rocket will be retired in the next fiscal year starting in April. The agency says it has resolved all possible causes of last year's failure and taken additional measures to ensure the reliability and safety of future H3 launches.
JAXA hopes that the H3's features and lower launch costs will allow it to attract customers and compete successfully in the global space services market. SpaceX already offers the reusable Falcon 9 rocket, which provides more cost-effective options for launching satellites into space, and the European Ariane 6 rocket is also expected to debut this year.