Japan's H3 Rocket Set for Another Launch Attempt Within Weeks After Inaugural Failure

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) incurred a setback on February 15, when the first launch of its next-generation H3 rocket was canceled.

The H3 represents a significant overhaul over its predecessor and is the first modification to Japan's launch vehicle in more than 20 years. The demonstration launch from the Tanegashima Space Center was supposed to put a government satellite into orbit.

After failing to launch as planned on Feb. 17, Japan's space agency is convinced it can conduct another launch of its next-generation H3 rocket within weeks.

H3 Rocket Launched Aborted

At the scheduled launch time, Nikkei Asia reported seeing smoke coming from the bottom of the rocket, signifying the firing of the main engine, but the rocket did not leave the launch pad.

The main engine shut down automatically shortly after ignition, preventing the boosters from igniting in reaction to a signal indicating a problem with the rocket's electronics from the first-stage control system.

According to JAXA, the main engine worked as expected but was shut off when it was about to reach full throttle. For the next attempt for the inaugural flight, which JAXA hopes to conduct by the end of March, it is expected that the main engine will remain the same.

Japan's plans to compete in the commercial launch market hinge on the H3's successful launch, and the agency aims to leverage Russia's withdrawal of its Soyuz rocket from commercial operation due to the conflict in Ukraine.

Experts say the failure was disappointing but occurred in the best possible way. Professor emeritus at JAXA, Yasunobu Matogawa, stated that if the rocket had failed after launch, it would have been a considerably greater setback from which it would have taken years to recover.

Japan aims to inherit H2A's reputation for dependability and improve upon it by rapidly determining the root of the H3 problem.

Japan's H3 Launch Vehicle

The H3 was built at the cost of 200 billion yen ($1.5 billion) and is powered by a liquid-fuel main engine developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and two solid-fuel boosters produced by IHI Aerospace, which previously produced the Epsilon rocket.

The H3's debut had already been delayed for two years due to the construction of a new engine, the so-called expander bleed cycle engine, which presented Mitsubishi Heavy with a formidable engineering task.

The H3 is Japan's new top-of-the-line rocket. It aims to be flexible, reliable, and cost-effective. It will be able to launch into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) better than the H-IIA and H-IIB Launch Vehicles, which are already in use.

Purpose of the Launch

The Daichi 3 Earth observation satellite was supposed to be positioned in a sun-synchronous orbit by the recent demonstration launch. The Japanese Defense Ministry intends to use the satellite's infrared sensor to provide early warning of impending missile assaults.

Inmarsat, a British satellite communications provider, will likely be the H3's first commercial customer. Uncertainty exists as to how the setback will alter the commercialization roadmap.

JAXA and the country's space agency are convinced that they will be able to attempt another launch of the H3 rocket within the next several weeks following Friday's failed flight.