Japan Successfully Launches 3rd Rocket in H3 Series

   Tanegashima, Kagoshima Pref., July 1 (Jiji Press)--The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, on Monday successfully launched the third of its new H3 rocket series carrying an advanced radar satellite.
   The Daichi-4 Earth observation satellite was put into the target orbit about 17 minutes after the rocket lifted off from Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, at 12:06 p.m.
   It was the first time for JAXA to launch an H3 rocket carrying a commercial satellite since the failed maiden launch last year.
   The H3 rocket is a two-stage liquid-propellant rocket developed by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. A new liquid-propellant engine has been introduced for the first stage to improve launch capability, while a drastic cut in costs from the preceding H-2A rocket is targeted by a reduction in the number of parts and the active use of commercial off-the-shelf items.
   In March last year, the first H3 rocket, carrying the Daichi-3 advanced optical satellite, was launched. Although the first-stage engine worked properly, the second-stage engine failed to ignite, resulting in the loss of the satellite.

(2024/07/01-15:23)

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