Japan successfully launched its new flagship large rocket, the H3 No. 3.
According to local media on the 1st, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the H3 No. 3 from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Kyushu at around 12:06 PM.
The Earth observation satellite Daichi-4 loaded on the rocket was deployed into the planned orbit at around 12:23 PM, about 17 minutes after the launch. This is the first time that the H3 has successfully placed an artificial satellite in orbit.
Daichi-4 weighs about 3 tons and is about 21 feet tall. It is equipped with a radar that can be observed even at night or in bad weather and is expected to be useful in understanding situations such as volcanic activity or disaster damage.
Compared to its predecessor H2A, H3 has about 40% stronger thrust per engine and about half the launch cost.
The H3 No. 1 that JAXA launched in March last year failed to achieve its mission due to a problem with the second-stage engine ignition system. The No. 2 launched in February this year was successful.
The Earth observation satellite Daichi-3 was installed on H3 No. 1, but it was lost due to launch failure, and a mock satellite with a similar weight and center of gravity to Daichi-3 was installed on No. 2.
The Yomiuri Shimbun evaluated, “H3 is a period rocket that will be the core of Japan’s space transportation for about the next 20 years,” adding, ” It made great progress for practical application.”
