Tue. Nov 5th, 2024
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Japan’s space agency on Saturday successfully launched a second test model of its new flagship rocket H3, in a welcome boost to its space program after last year’s inaugural flight failed.

The launch further burnishes the country’s space credentials, following the historic “pinpoint” moon landing of Japan’s SLIM spacecraft last month.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and primary contractor Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 7011.T have designed the H3 to replace the two-decade-old H-IIA, hoping that its lower costs and greater payload capacity will help them win launch orders from global clients.

The H3 had a “successful lift-off” at 9:22 AM Tokyo time and was “on course” with its engines properly working, JAXA said in a live broadcast that showed scientists clapping and hugging each other at Tanegashima Space Center.

People in Minamitane town, Kagoshima, southern Japan, watch as an H3 rocket lifts off.
Onlookers watch as Japan’s new H3 rocket successfully takes off, despite last year’s failure.(AP: Kyodo News)

The rocket has released one micro-satellite, is due to release another, and then about two hours after lift-off will release a dummy satellite.

The H3’s first flight in March ended up with ground control destroying the rocket 14 minutes after lift-off, because its second-stage engine failed to ignite. JAXA listed three possible electrical faults in a review released in October, but could not identify the direct cause.

The failure caused widespread delays in the country’s satellite and planetary exploration plans.

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